Novel substituted pyrazole compounds as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase inhibitors

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein are compounds of formula (I) which are inhibitors of an IDO enzyme: (I). Also disclosed herein are uses of the compounds in the potential treatment or prevention of an IDO-associated disease or disorder. Also disclosed herein are compositions comprising these compounds. Further disclosed herein are uses of the compositions in the potential treatment or prevention of an IDO-associated disease or disorder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid required for the biosynthesis of proteins, niacin and the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin). The enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) catalyzes the first and rate limiting step in the degradation of L-tryptophan to N-formyl-kynurenine. In human cells, a depletion of Trp resulting from IDO activity is a prominent gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-inducible antimicrobial effector mechanism. IFN-γ stimulation induces activation of IDO, which leads to a depletion of Trp, thereby arresting the growth of Trp-dependent intracellular pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydia trachomatis. IDO activity also has an antiproliferative effect on many tumor cells, and IDO induction has been observed in vivo during rejection of allogeneic tumors, indicating a possible role for this enzyme in the tumor rejection process (Daubener, et al, 1999, Adv. Exp. Med. Biol, 467: 517-24; Taylor, et al, 1991, FASEB J., 5: 2516-22).

It has been observed that HeLa cells co-cultured with peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) acquire an immuno-inhibitory phenotype through up-regulation of IDO activity. A reduction in PBL proliferation upon treatment with interleukin-2 (IL2) was believed to result from IDO released by the tumor cells in response to IFN-γ secretion by the PBLs. This effect was reversed by treatment with 1-methyl-tryptophan (1-MT), a specific IDO inhibitor. It was proposed that IDO activity in tumor cells may serve to impair antitumor responses (Logan, et al, 2002, Immunology, 105: 478-87).

Several lines of evidence suggest that IDO is involved in induction of immune tolerance. Studies of mammalian pregnancy, tumor resistance, chronic infections and autoimmune diseases have shown that cells expressing IDO can suppress T-cell responses and promote tolerance. Accelerated Trp catabolism has been observed in diseases and disorders associated with cellular immune activation, such as infection, malignancy, autoimmune diseases and AIDS, as well as during pregnancy. For example, increased levels of IFNs and elevated levels of urinary Trp metabolites have been observed in autoimmune diseases; it has been postulated that systemic or local depletion of Trp occurring in autoimmune diseases may relate to the degeneration and wasting symptoms of these diseases. In support of this hypothesis, high levels of IDO were observed in cells isolated from the synovia of arthritic joints. IFNs are also elevated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, and increasing IFN levels are associated with a worsening prognosis. Thus, it was proposed that IDO is induced chronically by HIV infection, and is further increased by opportunistic infections, and that the chronic loss of Trp initiates mechanisms responsible for cachexia, dementia and diarrhea and possibly immunosuppression of AIDS patients (Brown, et al., 1991, Adv. Exp. Med. Biol, 294: 425-35). To this end, it has recently been shown that IDO inhibition can enhance the levels of virus-specific T cells and, concomitantly, reduce the number of virally-infected macrophages in a mouse model of HIV (Portula et al., 2005, Blood, 106: 2382-90).

IDO is believed to play a role in the immunosuppressive processes that prevent fetal rejection in utero. More than 40 years ago, it was observed that, during pregnancy, the genetically disparate mammalian conceptus survives in spite of what would be predicted by tissue transplantation immunology (Medawar, 1953, Symp. Soc. Exp. Biol. 7: 320-38).

Anatomic separation of mother and fetus and antigenic immaturity of the fetus cannot fully explain fetal allograft survival. Recent attention has focused on immunologic tolerance of the mother. Because IDO is expressed by human syncytiotrophoblast cells and systemic tryptophan concentration falls during normal pregnancy, it was hypothesized that IDO expression at the maternal-fetal interface is necessary to prevent immunologic rejection of the fetal allografts. To test this hypothesis, pregnant mice (carrying syngeneic or allogeneic fetuses) were exposed to 1-MT, and a rapid, T cell-induced rejection of all allogeneic conception was observed. Thus, by catabolizing tryptophan, the mammalian conceptus appears to suppress T-cell activity and defends itself against rejection, and blocking tryptophan catabolism during murine pregnancy allows maternal T cells to provoke fetal allograft rejection (Moan, et al., 1998, Science, 281: 1191-3).

Further evidence for a tumoral immune resistance mechanism based on tryptophan degradation by IDO comes from the observation that most human tumors constitutively express IDO, and that expression of IDO by immunogenic mouse tumor cells prevents their rejection by preimmunized mice. This effect is accompanied by a lack of accumulation of specific T cells at the tumor site and can be partly reverted by systemic treatment of mice with an inhibitor of IDO, in the absence of noticeable toxicity. Thus, it was suggested that the efficacy of therapeutic vaccination of cancer patients might be improved by concomitant administration of an IDO inhibitor (Uyttenhove et al., 2003, Nature Med., 9: 1269-74). It has also been shown that the IDO inhibitor, 1-MT, can synergize with chemotherapeutic agents to reduce tumor growth in mice, suggesting that IDO inhibition may also enhance the anti-tumor activity of conventional cytotoxic therapies (Muller et al, 2005, Nature Med., 11: 312-9).

One mechanism contributing to immunologic unresponsiveness toward tumors may be presentation of tumor antigens by tolerogenic host APCs. A subset of human IDO-expressing antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that coexpressed CD 123 (IL3RA) and CCR6 and inhibited T-cell proliferation have also been described. Both mature and immature CD123-positive dendritic cells suppressed T-cell activity, and this IDO suppressive activity was blocked by 1-MT (Munn, et al, 2002, Science, 297: 1867-70). It has also been demonstrated that mouse tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) contain a subset of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) that constitutively express immunosuppressive levels of IDO. Despite comprising only 0.5% of lymph node cells, in vitro, these pDCs potently suppressed T cell responses to antigens presented by the pDCs themselves and also, in a dominant fashion, suppressed T cell responses to third-party antigens presented by nonsuppressive APCs. Within the population of pDCs, the majority of the functional IDO-mediated suppressor activity segregated with a novel subset of pDCs coexpressing the B-lineage marker CD19. Thus, it was hypothesized that IDO-mediated suppression by pDCs in TDLNs creates a local microenvironment that is potently suppressive of host antitumor T cell responses (Munn, et al., 2004, J. Clin. Invest, 114(2): 280-90).

IDO degrades the indole moiety of tryptophan, serotonin and melatonin, and initiates the production of neuroactive and immunoregulatory metabolites, collectively known as kynurenines. By locally depleting tryptophan and increasing proapoptotic kynurenines, IDO expressed by dendritic cells (DCs) can greatly affect T-cell proliferation and survival. IDO induction in DCs could be a common mechanism of deletional tolerance driven by regulatory T cells. Because such tolerogenic responses can be expected to operate in a variety of physiopathological conditions, tryptophan metabolism and kynurenine production might represent a crucial interface between the immune and nervous systems (Grohmann, et al, 2003, Trends Immunol, 24: 242-8). In states of persistent immune activation, availability of free serum Trp is diminished and, as a consequence of reduced serotonin production, serotonergic functions may also be affected (Wirleitner, et al., 2003, Curr. Med. Chem., 10: 1581-91).

In light of the experimental data indicating a role for IDO in immunosuppression, tumor resistance and/or rejection, chronic infections, HIV-infection, AIDS (including its manifestations such as cachexia, dementia and diarrhea), autoimmune diseases or disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis), and immunologic tolerance and prevention of fetal rejection in utero, therapeutic agents aimed at suppression of tryptophan degradation by inhibiting IDO activity are desirable. Inhibitors of IDO can be used to activate T cells and therefore enhance T cell activation when the T cells are suppressed by pregnancy, malignancy or a virus such as HIV. Inhibition of IDO may also be an important treatment strategy for patients with neurological or neuropsychiatric diseases or disorders such as depression. [1.1.1] Bicyclo compounds disclosed herein are useful in the potential treatment or prevention of IDO-related diseases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein are novel compounds of formula (I) which are inhibitors of the IDO enzyme. Also disclosed herein are uses of these compounds in the potential treatment or prevention of an IDO-associated disease or disorder. Also disclosed herein are compositions comprising one or more of the compounds. Further disclosed herein are uses of these compositions in the potential prevention or treatment of an IDO-associated disease or disorder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein are compounds of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein:

-   each of the dotted lines “ . . . ” is an optional bond; -   m is 0, 1, or 2; n is 0, 1, or 2; p is 1 or 2; -   R^(a) is selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) C₁₋₆ alkyl; -   each occurrence of R^(b) is independently selected from: (1)     hydrogen, (2) halogen, and (3) C₁₋₆ alkyl; -   R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) halogen, and (3) C₁₋₆     alkyl; -   R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form     a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl containing the one nitrogen to which     they are attached and zero to two additional hetero atoms     independently selected from N, S and O; wherein the heterocyclyl is     optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently     selected from:     -   (a) halogen,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to four         substituents independently selected from (i) —OH, (ii) halogen         and (iii) —C(O)—NHR^(e), wherein R^(e) is selected from (i)         hydrogen and (ii) C₁₋₆ alkyl,     -   (d) —O—C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to four         substituents independently selected from (i) —OH and (ii)         halogen,     -   (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen, (ii)         C₁₋₆ alkyl and (iii) —C(O)—C₁₋₆ alkyl, and     -   (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to four         substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b)         halogen; and -   R³ is selected from (1) C₆₋₁₀ carbocyclyl and (2) heterocyclyl,     wherein each of the carbocyclyl and heterocyclyl is optionally     substituted with one to four substituents independently selected     from:     -   (a) halogen,     -   (b) C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to four         halogens,     -   (c) —O—C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to four         halogens,     -   (d) —CN, and     -   (e) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with C₁₋₆ alkyl.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, R^(a) is hydrogen.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

each occurrence of R^(b) is independently selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) fluoro, (3) chloro, and (4) C₁₋₄ alkyl.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) fluoro, and (3) methyl.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, m is 0 or 1; n is 1; and p is 1 or 2.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

-   R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form     a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl containing the one nitrogen to which     they are attached and zero to one additional hetero atoms     independently selected from N and 0; wherein the heterocyclyl is     optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently     selected from:     -   (a) halogen,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (i) —OH, (ii) halogen,         and (iii) —C(O)—NH₂,     -   (d) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b) fluoro,     -   (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen         and (ii) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, and     -   (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b)         halogen.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

-   R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form     a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl selected from azetidinyl, morpholinyl,     piperidinyl, piperazinyl, and pyrrolidinyl; wherein the heterocyclyl     is optionally substituted with one to three substituents     independently selected from:     -   (a) halogen,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (i) halogen and (ii)         —C(O)—NH₂,     -   (d) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH,     -   (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen         and (ii) —C(O)—CH₃, and     -   (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

-   R³ is selected from:     -   (1) aryl,     -   (2) a phenyl fused to a C₄₋₅ cycloalkyl,     -   (3) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and     -   (4) heterocyclyl;     -   wherein each of the aryl of (1) and the heterocyclyl of (4) is         optionally substituted with one to four substituents         independently selected from:         -   (a) halogen,         -   (b) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (c) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (d) —CN, and         -   (e) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with C₁₋₄ alkyl.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

-   R³ is selected from:     -   (1) phenyl,     -   (2) naphthyl,     -   (3) bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trienyl,     -   (4) 2,3-dihydro-1H-indenyl,     -   (5) C₅₋₆ cycloalkyl, and     -   (6) a heterocyclyl selected from benzo[b]thiophenyl,         benzo[d][1,3]dioxolyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, pyridinyl, and         quinolinyl;     -   wherein each of the phenyl of (1), naphthyl of (2), and         heterocyclyl of (6) is optionally substituted with one to four         substituents independently selected from:         -   (a) halogen,         -   (b) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (c) ethyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (d) —O-methyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (e) —O-ethyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (f) —CN, and         -   (g) cyclopropyl, optionally substituted with methyl or             ethyl.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, the compound is of formula (Ia):

wherein:

-   m is 0, 1, or 2; n is 0, 1, or 2; p is 1 or 2; -   R^(a) is selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) C₁₋₄ alkyl; -   each occurrence of R^(b) is independently selected from: (1)     hydrogen, (2) fluoro, (3) chloro, and (4) C₁₋₄ alkyl; -   R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) fluoro, and (3) methyl; -   R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form     a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl containing the one nitrogen to which     they are attached and zero to one additional hetero atoms     independently selected from N and 0; wherein the heterocyclyl is     optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently     selected from:     -   (a) halogen,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (i) —OH, (ii) halogen,         and (iii) —C(O)—NH₂,     -   (d) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b) fluoro,     -   (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen         and (ii) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, and     -   (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b)         halogen; and -   R³ is selected from:     -   (1) aryl,     -   (2) a phenyl fused to a C₄₋₅ cycloalkyl,     -   (3) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and     -   (4) heterocyclyl;     -   wherein each of the aryl of (1) and the heterocyclyl of (4) is         optionally substituted with one to four substituents         independently selected from:     -   (a) halogen,     -   (b) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         halogens,     -   (c) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         halogens,     -   (d) —CN, and     -   (e) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with C₁₋₄ alkyl.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (Ia), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

-   R^(a) is hydrogen; -   each occurrence of R^(b) is independently selected from: (1)     hydrogen and (2) fluoro, and (3) methyl; -   R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) fluoro, and (3) methyl; -   R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form     a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl selected from azetidinyl, morpholinyl,     piperidinyl, piperazinyl, and pyrrolidinyl; wherein the heterocyclyl     is optionally substituted with one to three substituents     independently selected from:     -   (a) halogen,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (i) halogen and (ii)         —C(O)—NH₂,     -   (d) ethyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens,     -   (e) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH,     -   (f) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen         and (ii) —C(O)—CH₃, and     -   (g) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH; and -   R³ is selected from:     -   (1) phenyl,     -   (2) naphthyl,     -   (3) bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trienyl,     -   (4) 2,3-dihydro-1H-indenyl,     -   (5) C₅₋₆ cycloalkyl, and     -   (6) a heterocyclyl selected from benzo[b]thiophenyl,         benzo[d][1,3]dioxolyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, pyridinyl, and         quinolinyl;     -   wherein each of the phenyl of (1), naphthyl of (2), and         heterocyclyl of (6) is optionally substituted with one to four         substituents independently selected from:         -   (a) halogen,         -   (b) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (c) ethyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (d) —O-methyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (e) —O-ethyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (f) —CN, and         -   (g) cyclopropyl, optionally substituted with methyl or             ethyl.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, the compound is of formula (Ib):

wherein:

-   m is 0, 1, or 2; -   R^(a) is selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) C₁₋₄ alkyl; -   each occurrence of R^(b) is independently selected from: (1)     hydrogen, (2) fluoro, (3) chloro, and (4) C₁₋₄ alkyl; -   R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) fluoro, and (3) methyl; -   R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form     a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl containing the one nitrogen to which     they are attached and zero to one additional hetero atoms     independently selected from N and 0; wherein the heterocyclyl is     optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently     selected from:     -   (a) halogen,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (i) —OH, (ii) halogen,         and (iii) —C(O)—NH₂,     -   (d) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b) fluoro,     -   (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen         and (ii) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, and     -   (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b)         halogen; and -   R³ is selected from:     -   (1) aryl,     -   (2) a phenyl fused to a C₄₋₅ cycloalkyl,     -   (3) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and     -   (4) heterocyclyl;     -   wherein each of the aryl of (1) and the heterocyclyl of (4) is         optionally substituted with one to four substituents         independently selected from:         -   (a) halogen,         -   (b) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (c) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three             halogens,         -   (d) —CN, and         -   (e) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with C₁₋₄ alkyl.

In one embodiment of the compound of formula (Ib), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

-   m is 1; -   R^(a) is hydrogen; -   each occurrence of R^(b) is hydrogen; -   R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) fluoro; -   R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form     a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl selected from azetidinyl, morpholinyl,     piperidinyl, piperazinyl, and pyrrolidinyl; wherein the heterocyclyl     is optionally substituted with one to three substituents     independently selected from:     -   (a) halogen,     -   (b) —OH,     -   (c) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three         substituents independently selected from (i) —OH and (ii)         —C(O)—NH₂,     -   (d) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH,     -   (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen         and (ii) —C(O)—CH₃, and     -   (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH; and -   R³ is phenyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents     independently selected from:     -   (a) halogen, and     -   (b) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens.

In one embodiment, the compound disclosed herein is selected from the group consisting of the compounds exemplified herein, for example, in Examples 1-174, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Also disclosed herein is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

Also disclosed herein is a method of inhibiting activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) comprising contacting IDO with a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Also disclosed herein is a method of inhibiting immunosuppression in a patient comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Also disclosed herein is a method of treating cancer, viral infection, depression, a neurodegenerative disorder, trauma, age-related cataracts, organ transplant rejection, or an autoimmune disease in a patient comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Also disclosed herein is a method of treating melanoma in a patient comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Further disclosed herein is a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in therapy. In one embodiment, disclosed herein is the use of a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for the preparation of a medicament for use in therapy.

As used herein, “alkyl” refers to both branched- and straight-chain saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups of 1 to 18 carbon atoms, or more specifically, 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Examples of such groups include, but are not limited to, methyl (Me), ethyl (Et), n-propyl (Pr), n-butyl (Bu), n-pentyl, n-hexyl, and the isomers thereof such as isopropyl (i-Pr), isobutyl (i-Bu), sec-butyl (s-Bu), tert-butyl (t-Bu), isopentyl, and isohexyl. Alkyl groups may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents as defined herein. “C₁₋₆alkyl” refers to an alkyl group as defined herein having 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

“Aryl” refers to an aromatic monocyclic or multicyclic ring moiety comprising 6 to 14 ring carbon atoms, or more specifically, 6 to 10 ring carbon atoms. Monocyclic aryl rings include, but are not limited to, phenyl. Multicyclic rings include, but are not limited to, naphthyl and bicyclic rings wherein phenyl is fused to a C₅₋₇cycloalkyl or C₅₋₇cycloalkenyl ring. Aryl groups may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents as defined herein. Bonding can be through any of the carbon atoms of any ring. In one embodiment, an aryl is phenyl. In another embodiment, an aryl is naphthyl.

“Carbocyclyl” or “carbocyclic ring” refers to a saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic ring moiety having only ring carbon atoms. Carbocyclyl moieties include both monocyclic and multicyclic (e.g., bicyclic) ring moieties. Bicyclic carbocyclyl moieties include fused, spirocyclic and bridged bicyclic rings. Examples of carbocyclyl moieties include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, cyclooctyl, cyclopentenyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclohexadienyl, bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanyl, phenyl, naphthyl and 2,3-dihydro-1H-indenyl. Carbocyclic rings may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents as defined herein. “C₅₋₉ carbocycle” refers to a carbocycle group as defined herein having 5 to 9 ring carbon atoms.

In one embodiment, a carbocyclyl is an aryl. In another embodiment, a carbocyclyl is selected from phenyl and naphthyl. In another embodiment, a carbocyclyl is a bicyclic fused ring wherein one 6-membered aromatic ring is fused to a 4- or 5-membered partially unsaturated ring. In one embodiment, the bicyclic fused ring is selected from 2,3-dihydro-1H-indenyl and bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trienyl.

“Cycloalkyl” refers to a monocyclic saturated carbocyclic ring having the specified number of carbon atoms. For example, C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl refers to a cycloalkyl group as defined herein having 3 to 6 carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkyl include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, and cyclohexyl. Cycloalkyl groups may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents as defined herein.

“Halo” or “halogen” refers to fluoro, chloro, bromo or iodo, unless otherwise noted.

“Heterocycle” or “heterocyclyl” refers to a saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic ring moiety having at least one ring heteroatom and at least one ring carbon atom. In one embodiment, the heteroatom is oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen. A heterocycle containing more than one heteroatom may contain different heteroatoms. Heterocyclyl moieties include both monocyclic and multicyclic (e.g., bicyclic) ring moieties. Bicyclic ring moieties include fused, spirocyclic and bridged bicyclic rings and may comprise one or more heteroatoms in either of the rings. The ring attached to the remainder of the molecule may or may not contain a heteroatom. Either ring of a bicyclic heterocycle may be saturated, partially unsaturated or aromatic. The heterocycle may be attached to the rest of the molecule via a ring carbon atom, a ring oxygen atom or a ring nitrogen atom. Non-limiting examples of heterocycles are described below.

A fused heterocyclic ring may be attached to the rest of the molecule via a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom on either ring. A heterocycle of this type includes a bicyclic ring comprising only one nitrogen as the sole heteroatom when the nitrogen is located at the bridgehead. In one embodiment, a heterocyclyl is selected from benzo[b]thiophenyl, benzo[d][1,3]dioxolyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, pyridinyl, and quinolinyl.

Heterocyclic groups may be optionally substituted with one or more substituents as defined herein.

“Optionally substituted” refers to “unsubstituted or substituted,” and therefore, the generic structural formulas described herein encompass compounds containing the specified optional substituent(s) as well as compounds that do not contain the optional substituent(s). Each substituent is independently defined each time it occurs within the generic structural formula definitions.

Polymorphism

A compound disclosed herein, including a salt or solvate thereof, may exist in crystalline form, non-crystalline form, or a mixture thereof. A compound or a salt or solvate thereof may also exhibit polymorphism, i.e. the capacity of occurring in different crystalline forms. These different crystalline forms are typically known as “polymorphs”. Polymorphs have the same chemical composition but differ in packing, geometrical arrangement, and other descriptive properties of crystalline solid state. Polymorphs, therefore, may have different physical properties such as shape, density, hardness, deformability, stability, and dissolution properties. Polymorphs typically exhibit different melting points, IR spectra, and X-ray powder diffraction patterns, all of which may be used for identification. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that different polymorphs may be produced, for example, by changing or adjusting the conditions used in crystallizing/recrystallizing a compound disclosed herein.

Optical Isomers—Diastereomers—Geometric Isomers—Tautomers

Included herein are various isomers of the compounds disclosed herein. The term “isomers” refers to compounds that have the same composition and molecular weight but differ in physical and/or chemical properties. The structural difference may be in constitution (geometric isomers) or in the ability to rotate the plane of polarized light (stereosiomers).

With regard to stereoisomers, a compound disclosed herein may have one or more asymmetric carbon atom and may occur as a racemic mixture or as individual enantiomers or diastereomers. All such isomeric forms are included herein, including mixtures thereof. If a compound disclosed herein contains a double bond, the substituent may be in the E or Z configuration. If a compound disclosed herein contains a disubstituted cycloalkyl, the cycloalkyl substituent may have a cis- or trans-configuration. All tautomeric forms are also intended to be included.

Any asymmetric atom (e.g., carbon) of a compound disclosed herein can be present in racemic mixture or enantiomerically enriched, for example the (R)-, (S)- or (R,S)-configuration. In certain embodiments, each asymmetric atom has at least 50% enantiomeric excess, at least 60% enantiomeric excess, at least 70% enantiomeric excess, at least 80% enantiomeric excess, at least 90% enantiomeric excess, at least 95% enantiomeric excess, or at least 99% enantiomeric excess in the (R)- or (S)-configuration. Substituents at atoms with unsaturated double bonds may, if possible, be present in cis-(Z)- or trans-(E)-form.

A compound disclosed herein can be in the form of one of the possible isomers, rotamers, atropisomers, tautomers or mixtures thereof, for example, as substantially pure geometric (cis or trans) isomers, diastereomers, optical isomers (antipodes), racemates or mixtures thereof.

Any resulting mixtures of isomers can be separated on the basis of the physicochemical differences of the constituents, into the pure or substantially pure geometric or optical isomers, diastereomers, racemates, for example, by chromatography and/or fractional crystallization.

Any resulting racemates of the final compounds of the examples or intermediates can be resolved into the optical antipodes by known methods, e.g., by separation of the diastereomeric salts thereof, obtained with an optically active acid or base, and liberating the optically active acidic or basic compound. In particular, a basic moiety may thus be employed to resolve the compounds of the present invention into their optical antipodes, e.g., by fractional crystallization of a salt formed with an optically active acid, e.g., tartaric acid, dibenzoyl tartaric acid, diacetyl tartaric acid, di-O,O′-p-toluoyl tartaric acid, mandelic acid, malic acid or camphor-10-sulfonic acid. Racemic compounds can also be resolved by chiral chromatography, e.g., high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a chiral adsorbent.

Some of the compounds described herein may exist with different points of attachment of hydrogen, referred to as tautomers. For example, compounds including carbonyl —CH₂C(O)— groups (keto forms) may undergo tautomerism to form hydroxyl —CH═C(OH)— groups (enol forms). Both keto and enol forms, individually as well as mixtures thereof, are included within the scope of the present invention.

Isotopic Variations

Compounds disclosed herein include unlabeled forms, as well as isotopically labeled forms. Isotopically labeled compounds have structures depicted by the formulas given herein except that one or more atoms are replaced by an atom having a selected atomic mass or mass number. Examples of isotopes that can be incorporated into compounds disclosed herein include isotopes of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, sulfur, fluorine, iodine and chlorine, such as ²H (i.e., Deuterium or “D”), ³H, ¹¹C, ¹³C, ¹⁴C, ¹³N, ¹⁵N, ¹⁵O, ¹⁷O, ¹⁸O, ³²P, ³⁵S, ¹⁸F, ¹²³I, ¹²⁵I and ³⁶Cl. The invention includes various isotopically labeled compounds as defined herein, for example those into which radioactive isotopes, such as ³H and ¹⁴C, or those into which non-radioactive isotopes, such as ²H and ¹³C are present. Such isotopically labelled compounds are useful in metabolic studies (with ¹⁴C), reaction kinetic studies (with, for example ²H or ³H), detection or imaging techniques, such as positron emission tomography (PET) or single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) including drug or substrate tissue distribution assays, or in radioactive treatment of patients. In particular, substitution with positron emitting isotopes, such as ¹¹C, ¹⁸F, ¹⁵O and ¹³N, may be particularly desirable for PET or SPECT studies.

Isotopically-labeled compounds disclosed herein can generally be prepared by conventional techniques known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, substitution with heavier isotopes, particularly deuterium (i.e., ²H or D) may afford certain therapeutic advantages resulting from greater metabolic stability, for example increased in vivo half-life or reduced dosage requirements or an improvement in therapeutic index.

Pharmaceutically Acceptable Salts

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” refers to a salt prepared from a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic base or acid, including inorganic or organic base and inorganic or organic acid. Salts derived from inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium, calcium, copper, ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium, manganic salts, manganous, potassium, sodium, zinc, and the like. Particular embodiments include ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium salts. Salts in the solid form may exist in more than one crystal structure, and may also be in the form of hydrates. Salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptable organic non-toxic bases include salts of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines, substituted amines including naturally occurring substituted amines, cyclic amines, and basic ion exchange resins, such as arginine, betaine, caffeine, choline, N,N′-dibenzylethylene-diamine, diethylamine, 2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, ethanolamine, ethylenediamine, N-ethyl-morpholine, N-ethylpiperidine, glucamine, glucosamine, histidine, hydrabamine, isopropylamine, lysine, methylglucamine, morpholine, piperazine, piperidine, polyamine resins, procaine, purines, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine, tripropylamine, tromethamine, and the like.

When a compound disclosed herein is basic, a salt may be prepared from a pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acid, including an inorganic and organic acid. Such acids include acetic, benzenesulfonic, benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric, ethanesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic, glutamic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, isethionic, lactic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic, nitric, pamoic, pantothenic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric, p-toluenesulfonic acid, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and the like. Particular embodiments include the citric, hydrobromic, hydrochloric, maleic, phosphoric, sulfuric, fumaric, tartaric and trifluoroacetic acids. It will be understood that, as used herein, references to the compounds disclosed herein are meant to also include pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Methods of Use

Compounds disclosed herein can inhibit activity of the enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). For example, the compounds disclosed herein can potentially be used to inhibit activity of IDO in cell or in an individual in need of modulation of the enzyme by administering an effective amount of a compound. Further disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting the degradation of tryptophan in a system containing cells expressing IDO such as a tissue, living organism, or cell culture. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods of altering (e.g., increasing) extracellular tryptophan levels in a mammal by administering an effective amount of a compound or composition provided herein. Methods of measuring tryptophan levels and tryptophan degradation are routine in the art.

Also disclosed herein are methods of inhibiting immunosuppression such as IDO-mediated immunosuppression in a patient by administering to the patient an effective amount of a compound or composition recited herein. IDO-mediated immunosuppression has been associated with, for example, cancers, tumor growth, metastasis, viral infection, viral replication, etc.

Also disclosed herein are methods of treating diseases associated with activity or expression, including abnormal activity and/or overexpression, of IDO in an individual (e.g., patient) by administering to the individual in need of such treatment an effective amount or dose of a compound disclosed herein or a pharmaceutical composition thereof. Example diseases can include any disease, disorder or condition that may be directly or indirectly linked to expression or activity of the IDO enzyme, such as over expression or abnormal activity. An IDO-associated disease can also include any disease, disorder or condition that may be prevented, ameliorated, or cured by modulating enzyme activity. Examples of IDO-associated diseases include cancer, viral infection such as HIV and HCV, depression, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease, trauma, age-related cataracts, organ transplantation (e.g., organ transplant rejection), and autoimmune diseases including asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, allergic inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis and systemic lupus erythematosusor. Example cancers potentially treatable by the methods herein include cancer of the colon, pancreas, breast, prostate, lung, brain, ovary, cervix, testes, renal, head and neck, lymphoma, leukemia, melanoma, and the like. The compounds of the invention may also be useful in the treatment of obesity and ischemia. As used herein, the term “cell” is meant to refer to a cell that is in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo. In some embodiments, an ex vivo cell can be part of a tissue sample excised from an organism such as a mammal. In some embodiments, an in vitro cell can be a cell in a cell culture. In some embodiments, an in vivo cell is a cell living in an organism such as a mammal.

As used herein, the term “contacting” refers to the bringing together of indicated moieties in an in vitro system or an in vivo system. For example, “contacting” the IDO enzyme with a compound disclosed herein includes the administration of a compound of the present invention to an individual or patient, such as a human, as well as, for example, introducing a compound of the invention into a sample containing a cellular or purified preparation containing the IDO enzyme.

A subject administered with a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, is generally a mammal, such as a human being, male or female. A subject also refers to cows, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, mice, fish, and birds. In one embodiment, the subject is a human.

As used herein, the terms “treatment” and “treating” refer to all processes wherein there may be a slowing, interrupting, arresting, controlling, or stopping of the progression of a disease or disorder that may be associated with IDO enzyme activity. The terms do not necessarily indicate a total elimination of all disease or disorder symptoms. The terms also include the potential prophylactic therapy of the mentioned conditions, particularly in a subject that is predisposed to such disease or disorder.

The terms “administration of” and or “administering a” compound should be understood to include providing a compound described herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and compositions of the foregoing to a subject.

The amount of a compound administered to a subject is an amount sufficient to inhibit IDO enzyme activity in the subject. In an embodiment, the amount of a compound can be an “effective amount”, wherein the subject compound is administered in an amount that will elicit a biological or medical response of a tissue, system, animal or human that is being sought by a researcher, veterinarian, medical doctor or other clinician. An effective amount does not necessarily include considerations of toxicity and safety related to the administration of a compound. It is recognized that one skilled in the art may affect physiological disorders associated with an IDO enzyme activity by treating a subject presently afflicted with the disorders, or by prophylactically treating a subject likely to be afflicted with the disorders, with an effective amount of a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

An effective amount of a compound will vary with the particular compound chosen (e.g. considering the potency, efficacy, and/or half-life of the compound); the route of administration chosen; the condition being treated; the severity of the condition being treated; the age, size, weight, and physical condition of the subject being treated; the medical history of the subject being treated; the duration of the treatment; the nature of a concurrent therapy; the desired therapeutic effect; and like factors and can be routinely determined by the skilled artisan.

The compounds disclosed herein may be administered by any suitable route including oral and parenteral administration. Parenteral administration is typically by injection or infusion and includes intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous injection or infusion.

The compounds disclosed herein may be administered once or according to a dosing regimen wherein a number of doses are administered at varying intervals of time for a given period of time. For example, doses may be administered one, two, three, or four times per day. Doses may be administered until the desired therapeutic effect is achieved or indefinitely to maintain the desired therapeutic effect. Suitable dosing regimens for a compound disclosed herein depend on the pharmacokinetic properties of that compound, such as absorption, distribution and half-life which can be determined by a skilled artisan. In addition, suitable dosing regimens, including the duration such regimens are administered, for a compound disclosed herein depend on the disease or condition being treated, the severity of the disease or condition, the age and physical condition of the subject being treated, the medical history of the subject being treated, the nature of concurrent therapy, the desired therapeutic effect, and like factors within the knowledge and expertise of the skilled artisan. It will be further understood by such skilled artisans that suitable dosing regimens may require adjustment given an individual subject's response to the dosing regimen or over time as the individual subject needs change. Typical daily dosages may vary depending upon the particular route of administration chosen. Typical daily dosages for oral administration, to a human weighing approximately 70 kg would range from about 0.1 mg to about 2 grams, or more specifically, 0.1 mg to 500 mg, or even more specifically, 0.2 mg to 100 mg, of a compound disclosed herein.

One embodiment of the present invention provides for a method of treating a disease or disorder associated with IDO enzyme activity comprising administration of an effective amount of a compound disclosed herein to a subject in need of treatment thereof. In one embodiment, the disease or disorder associated with an IDO enzyme is a cell proliferation disorder.

In one embodiment, disclosed herein is the use of a compound disclosed herein in a therapy. The compound may be useful in a method of inhibiting IDO enzyme activity in a subject, such as a mammal in need of such inhibition, comprising administering an effective amount of the compound to the subject.

In one embodiment, disclosed herein is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for use in potential treatment of a disorder or disease related to IDO enzyme activity.

Compositions

The term “composition” as used herein is intended to encompass a dosage form comprising a specified compound in a specified amount, as well as any dosage form which results, directly or indirectly, from combination of a specified compound in a specified amount. Such term is intended to encompass a dosage form comprising a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients. Accordingly, the compositions of the present invention encompass any composition made by admixing a compound of the present invention and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipients. By “pharmaceutically acceptable” it is meant the carriers or excipients are compatible with the compound disclosed herein and with other ingredients of the composition.

In one embodiment, disclosed herein is a composition comprising a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients. The composition may be prepared and packaged in bulk form wherein an effective amount of a compound of the invention can be extracted and then given to a subject, such as with powders or syrups. Alternatively, the composition may be prepared and packaged in unit dosage form wherein each physically discrete unit contains an effective amount of a compound disclosed herein. When prepared in unit dosage form, the composition of the invention typically contains from about 0.1 mg to 2 grams, or more specifically, 0.1 mg to 500 mg, or even more specifically, 0.2 mg to 100 mg, of a compound disclosed herein, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A compound disclosed herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient(s) will typically be formulated into a dosage form adapted for administration to a subject by a desired route of administration. For example, dosage forms include those adapted for (1) oral administration, such as tablets, capsules, caplets, pills, troches, powders, syrups, elixirs, suspensions, solutions, emulsions, sachets, and cachets; and (2) parenteral administration, such as sterile solutions, suspensions, and powders for reconstitution. Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients will vary depending upon the particular dosage form chosen. In addition, suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients may be chosen for a particular function that they may serve in the composition. For example, certain pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients may be chosen for their ability to facilitate the production of uniform dosage forms. Certain pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients may be chosen for their ability to facilitate the production of stable dosage forms. Certain pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients may be chosen for their ability to facilitate the carrying or transporting of a compound disclosed herein, once administered to the subject, from one organ or portion of the body to another organ or another portion of the body. Certain pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients may be chosen for their ability to enhance patient compliance.

Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include the following types of excipients: diluents, lubricants, binders, disintegrants, fillers, glidants, granulating agents, coating agents, wetting agents, solvents, co-solvents, suspending agents, emulsifiers, sweeteners, flavoring agents, flavor masking agents, coloring agents, anti-caking agents, hemectants, chelating agents, plasticizers, viscosity increasing agents, antioxidants, preservatives, stabilizers, surfactants, and buffering agents.

A skilled artisan possesses the knowledge and skill in the art to select suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and excipients in appropriate amounts for the use in the invention. In addition, there are a number of resources available to the skilled artisan, which describe pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and excipients and may be useful in selecting suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and excipients. Examples include Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Mack Publishing Company), The Handbook of Pharmaceutical Additives (Gower Publishing Limited), and The Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients (the American Pharmaceutical Association and the Pharmaceutical Press).

The compositions of the invention are prepared using techniques and methods known to those skilled in the art. Some methods commonly used in the art are described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Mack Publishing Company).

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a solid oral dosage form such as a tablet or capsule comprising an effective amount of a compound of the invention and a diluent or filler. Suitable diluents and fillers include lactose, sucrose, dextrose, mannitol, sorbitol, starch (e.g. corn starch, potato starch, and pre-gelatinized starch), cellulose and its derivatives, (e.g. microcrystalline cellulose), calcium sulfate, and dibasic calcium phosphate. The oral solid dosage form may further comprise a binder. Suitable binders include starch (e.g. corn starch, potato starch, and pre-gelatinized starch) gelatin, acacia, sodium alginate, alginic acid, tragacanth, guar gum, povidone, and cellulose and its derivatives (e.g. microcrystalline cellulose). The oral solid dosage form may further comprise a disintegrant. Suitable disintegrants include crospovidone, sodium starch glycolate, croscarmelose, alginic acid, and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose. The oral solid dosage form may further comprise a lubricant. Suitable lubricants include stearic acid, magnesium stearate, calcium stearate, and talc.

Where appropriate, dosage unit formulations for oral administration can be microencapsulated. The composition can also be prepared to prolong or sustain the release as, for example, by coating or embedding particulate material in polymers, wax, or the like.

The compounds disclosed herein may also be coupled with soluble polymers as targetable drug carriers. Such polymers can include polyvinylpyrrolidone, pyrancopolymer, polyhydroxypropylmethacrylamidephenol, polyhydroxyethylaspartamidephenol, or polyethyleneoxidepolylysine substituted with palmitoyl residues. Furthermore, the compounds of the invention may be coupled to a class of biodegradable polymers useful in achieving controlled release of a drug, for example polylactic acid, polepsilon caprolactone, polyhydroxy butyric acid, polyorthoesters, polyacetals, polydihydropyrans, polycyanacrylates and cross-linked or amphipathic block copolymers of hydrogels.

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to a liquid oral dosage form. Oral liquids such as solution, syrups and elixirs can be prepared in dosage unit form so that a given quantity contains a predetermined amount of a compound disclosed herein. Syrups can be prepared by dissolving the compound of the invention in a suitably flavored aqueous solution; while elixirs are prepared through the use of a non-toxic alcoholic vehicle. Suspensions can be formulated by dispersing a compound disclosed herein in a non-toxic vehicle. Solubilizers and emulsifiers such as ethoxylated isostearyl alcohols and polyoxy ethylene sorbitol ethers, preservatives, flavor additives such as peppermint oil or other natural sweeteners or saccharin or other artificial sweeteners and the like can also be added.

In one embodiment, the invention is directed to compositions for parenteral administration. Compositions adapted for parenteral administration include aqueous and non-aqueous sterile injection solutions which may contain anti-oxidants, buffers, bacteriostats and solutes which render the formulation isotonic with the blood of the intended recipient; and aqueous and non-aqueous sterile suspensions which may include suspending agents and thickening agents. The compositions may be presented in unit-dose or multi-dose containers, for example sealed ampoules and vials, and may be stored in a freeze dried (lyophilized) condition requiring only the addition of the sterile liquid carrier, for example water for injections, immediately prior to use. Extemporaneous injection solutions and suspensions may be prepared from sterile powders, granules and tablets.

Combinations

A compound disclosed herein may be used in combination with one or more other active agents, including but not limited to, other anti-cancer agents, that are used in the prevention, treatment, control, amelioration, or reduction of risk of a particular disease or condition (e.g., cell proliferation disorders). In one embodiment, a compound disclosed herein is combined with one or more other anti-cancer agents for use in the prevention, treatment, control amelioration, or reduction of risk of a particular disease or condition for which the compounds disclosed herein are useful. Such other active agents may be administered, by a route and in an amount commonly used therefor, contemporaneously or sequentially with a compound of the present invention.

When a compound disclosed herein is used contemporaneously with one or more other active agents, a composition containing such other active agents in addition to the compound disclosed herein is contemplated. Accordingly, the compositions of the present invention include those that also contain one or more other active ingredients, in addition to a compound disclosed herein. A compound disclosed herein may be administered either simultaneously with, or before or after, one or more other therapeutic agent(s). A compound disclosed herein may be administered separately, by the same or different route of administration, or together in the same pharmaceutical composition as the other agent(s).

Products provided as a combined preparation include a composition comprising a compound disclosed herein and one or more other active agent(s) together in the same pharmaceutical composition, or a compound disclosed herein and one or more other therapeutic agent(s) in separate form, e.g. in the form of a kit.

The weight ratio of a compound disclosed herein to a second active agent may be varied and will depend upon the effective dose of each agent. Generally, an effective dose of each will be used. Thus, for example, when a compound disclosed herein is combined with another agent, the weight ratio of the compound disclosed herein to the other agent will generally range from about 1000:1 to about 1:1000, such as about 200:1 to about 1:200. Combinations of a compound disclosed herein and other active agents will generally also be within the aforementioned range, but in each case, an effective dose of each active agent should be used. In such combinations, the compound disclosed herein and other active agents may be administered separately or in conjunction. In addition, the administration of one element may be prior to, concurrent to, or subsequent to the administration of other agent(s).

In one embodiment, the invention provides a composition comprising a compound disclosed herein and at least one other therapeutic agent as a combined preparation for simultaneous, separate or sequential use in therapy. In one embodiment, the therapy is the treatment of a disease or disorder associated with IDO enzyme activity.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a kit comprising two or more separate pharmaceutical compositions, at least one of which contains a compound disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the kit comprises means for separately retaining said compositions, such as a container, divided bottle, or divided foil packet. An example of such a kit is a blister pack, as typically used for the packaging of tablets, capsules and the like.

A kit disclosed herein may be used for administering different dosage forms, for example, oral and parenteral, for administering the separate compositions at different dosage intervals, or for titrating the separate compositions against one another. To assist with compliance, a kit of the invention typically comprises directions for administration.

Disclosed herein is a use of a compound disclosed herein for treating a disease or disorder associated with IDO enzyme activity, wherein the medicament is prepared for administration with another active agent. The invention also provides the use of another active agent for treating a disease or disorder associated with an IDO enzyme, wherein the medicament is administered with a compound disclosed herein.

The invention also provides the use of a compound disclosed herein for treating a disease or disorder associated with IDO enzyme activity, wherein the patient has previously (e.g. within 24 hours) been treated with another active agent. The invention also provides the use of another therapeutic agent for treating a disease or disorder associated with IDO enzyme activity, wherein the patient has previously (e.g. within 24 hours) been treated with a compound disclosed herein. The second agent may be applied a week, several weeks, a month, or several months after the administration of a compound disclosed herein.

In one embodiment, the other active agent is selected from the group consisting of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor inhibitors, topoisomerase II inhibitors, smoothen inhibitors, alkylating agents, anti-tumor antibiotics, anti-metabolites, retinoids, immunomodulatory agents including but not limited to anti-cancer vaccines, CTLA-4, LAG-3 and PD-1 antagonists.

Examples of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor inhibitors include, but are not limited to, bevacizumab (sold under the trademark AVASTIN by Genentech/Roche), axitinib, (N-methyl-2-[[3-[([pound])-2-pyridin-2-ylethenyl]-1H-indazol-6-yl]sulfanyl]benzamide, also known as AG013736, and described in PCT Publication No. WO 01/002369), Brivanib Alaninate ((S)—((R)-1-(4-(4-Fluoro-2-methyl-1H-indol-5-yloxy)-5-methylpyrrolo[2,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-6-yloxy)propan-2-yl)2-aminopropanoate, also known as BMS-582664), motesanib (N-(2,3-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-1H-indoi-6-yl)-2-[(4-pyridinyimethyj)amino]-3-pyfidinecarboxamide. and described in PCT Publication No. WO 02/068470), pasireotide (also known as SO 230, and described in PCT Publication No. WO 02/010192), and sorafenib (sold under the tradename NEXAVAR).

Examples of topoisomerase II inhibitors, include but are not limited to, etoposide (also known as VP-16 and Etoposide phosphate, sold under the tradenames TOPOSAR, VEPESID and ETOPOPHOS), and teniposide (also known as VM-26, sold under the tradename VUMON).

Examples of alkylating agents, include but are not limited to, 5-azacytidine (sold under the trade name VIDAZA), decitabine (sold under the trade name of DECOGEN), temozolomide (sold under the trade names TEMODAR and TEMODAL by Schering-Plough/Merck), dactinomycin (also known as actinomycin-D and sold under the tradename COSMEGEN), melphalan (also known as L-PAM, L-sarcolysin, and phenylalanine mustard, sold under the tradename ALKERAN), altretamine (also known as hexamethylmelamine (HMM), sold under the tradename HEXALEN), carmustine (sold under the tradename BCNU), bendamustine (sold under the tradename TREANDA), busulfan (sold under the tradenames BUSULFEX and MYLERAN), carboplatin (sold under the tradename PARAPLATIN), lomustine (also known as CCNU, sold under the tradename CeeNU), cisplatin (also known as CDDP, sold under the tradenames PLATINOL and PLATINOL-AQ), chlorambucil (sold under the tradename LEUKERAN), cyclophosphamide (sold under the tradenames CYTOXAN and NEOSAR), dacarbazine (also known as DTIC, DIC and imidazole carboxamide, sold under the tradename DTIC-DOME), altretamine (also known as hexamethylmelamine (HMM) sold under the tradename HEXALEN), ifosfamide (sold under the tradename IFEX), procarbazine (sold under the tradename MATULANE), mechlorethamine (also known as nitrogen mustard, mustine and mechloroethamine hydrochloride, sold under the tradename MUSTARGEN), streptozocin (sold under the tradename ZANOSAR), thiotepa (also known as thiophosphoamide, TESPA and TSPA, and sold under the tradename THIOPLEX).

Examples of anti-tumor antibiotics include, but are not limited to, doxorubicin (sold under the tradenames ADRIAMYCIN and RUBEX), bleomycin (sold under the tradename LENOXANE), daunorubicin (also known as dauorubicin hydrochloride, daunomycin, and rubidomycin hydrochloride, sold under the tradename CERUBIDINE), daunorubicin liposomal (daunorubicin citrate liposome, sold under the tradename DAUNOXOME), mitoxantrone (also known as DHAD, sold under the tradename NOVANTRONE), epirubicin (sold under the tradename ELLENCE), idarubicin (sold under the tradenames IDAMYCIN, IDAMYCIN PFS), and mitomycin C (sold under the tradename MUTAMYCIN).

Examples of anti-metabolites include, but are not limited to, claribine (2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, sold under the tradename LEUSTATIN), 5-fluorouracil (sold under the tradename ADRUCIL), 6-thioguanine (sold under the tradename PURINETHOL), pemetrexed (sold under the tradename ALIMTA), cytarabine (also known as arabinosylcytosine (Ara-C), sold under the tradename CYTOSAR-U), cytarabine liposomal (also known as Liposomal Ara-C, sold under the tradename DEPOCYT), decitabine (sold under the tradename DACOGEN), hydroxyurea (sold under the tradenames HYDREA, DROXIA and MYLOCEL), fludarabine (sold under the tradename FLUDARA), floxuridine (sold under the tradename FUDR), cladribine (also known as 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine (2-CdA) sold under the tradename LEUSTATIN), methotrexate (also known as amethopterin, methotrexate sodium (MTX), sold under the tradenames RHEUMATREX and TREXALL), and pentostatin (sold under the tradename NIPENT).

Examples of retinoids include, but are not limited to, alitretinoin (sold under the tradename PANRETIN), tretinoin (all-trans retinoic acid, also known as ATRA, sold under the tradename VESANOID), Isotretinoin (13-c/s-retinoic acid, sold under the tradenames ACCUTANE, AMNESTEEM, CLARAVIS, CLARUS, DECUTAN, ISOTANE, IZOTECH, ORATANE, ISOTRET, and SOTRET), and bexarotene (sold under the tradename TARGRETIN).

“PD-1 antagonist” means any chemical compound or biological molecule that blocks binding of PD-L1 expressed on a cancer cell to PD-1 expressed on an immune cell (T cell, B cell or NKT cell) and preferably also blocks binding of PD-L2 expressed on a cancer cell to the immune-cell expressed PD-1. Alternative names or synonyms for PD-1 and its ligands include: PDCD1, PD1, CD279 and SLEB2 for PD-1; PDCD1L1, PDL1, B7H1, B7-4, CD274 and B7-H for PD-L1; and PDCDIL2, PDL2, B7-DC, Btdc and CD273 for PD-L2. In any of the treatment method, medicaments and uses of the present invention in which a human individual is being treated, the PD-1 antagonist blocks binding of human PD-L1 to human PD-1, and preferably blocks binding of both human PD-L1 and PD-L2 to human PD-1. Human PD-1 amino acid sequences can be found in NCBI Locus No.: NP_005009. Human PD-L1 and PD-L2 amino acid sequences can be found in NCBI Locus No.: NP_054862 and NP_079515, respectively.

PD-1 antagonists useful in any of the treatment method, medicaments and uses of the present invention include a monoclonal antibody (mAb), or antigen binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to PD-1 or PD-L1, and preferably specifically binds to human PD-1 or human PD-L1. The mAb may be a human antibody, a humanized antibody or a chimeric antibody, and may include a human constant region. In some embodiments the human constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 constant regions, and in preferred embodiments, the human constant region is an IgG1 or IgG4 constant region. In some embodiments, the antigen binding fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab′-SH, F(ab′)₂, scFv and Fv fragments. Examples of PD-1 antagonists include, but are not limited to, pembrolizumab (sold under the tradename KEYTRUDA) and nivolumab (sold under the tradename OPDIVO).

Examples of mAbs that bind to human PD-1, and useful in the treatment method, medicaments and uses of the present invention, are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,488,802, 7,521,051, 8,008,449, 8,354,509, 8,168,757, WO2004/004771, WO2004/072286, WO2004/056875, and US2011/0271358.

Examples of mAbs that bind to human PD-L1, and useful in the treatment method, medicaments and uses of the present invention, are described in WO2013/019906, WO2010/077634 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 8,383,796. Specific anti-human PD-L1 mAbs useful as the PD-1 antagonist in the treatment method, medicaments and uses of the present invention include MPDL3280A, BMS-936559, MEDI4736, MSB0010718C and an antibody which comprises the heavy chain and light chain variable regions of SEQ ID NO:24 and SEQ ID NO:21, respectively, of WO2013/019906.

Other PD-1 antagonists useful in any of the treatment method, medicaments and uses of the present invention include an immunoadhesin that specifically binds to PD-1 or PD-L1, and preferably specifically binds to human PD-1 or human PD-L1, e.g., a fusion protein containing the extracellular or PD-1 binding portion of PD-L1 or PD-L2 fused to a constant region such as an Fc region of an immunoglobulin molecule. Examples of immunoadhesion molecules that specifically bind to PD-1 are described in WO2010/027827 and WO2011/066342. Specific fusion proteins useful as the PD-1 antagonist in the treatment method, medicaments and uses of the present invention include AMP-224 (also known as B7-DCIg), which is a PD-L2-FC fusion protein and binds to human PD-1.

Examples of other cytotoxic agents include, but are not limited to, arsenic trioxide (sold under the tradename TRISENOX), asparaginase (also known as L-asparaginase, and Erwinia L-asparaginase, sold under the tradenames ELSPAR and KIDROLASE).

EXPERIMENTAL

The following examples are intended to be illustrative only and not limiting in any way. Abbreviations used are those conventional in the art or the following.

-   -   ACN acetonitrile     -   BAST bis(2-methoxyethyl)aminosulfur trifluoride     -   Boc tert-butyloxycarbonyl     -   ° C. degree Celsius     -   Cbz N-carboxybenzyl     -   Celite diatomaceous earth used as a filtration medium     -   (COCl)₂ oxalyl chloride     -   DAST diethylaminosulfur trifluoride     -   DCM dichloromethane     -   DIAD diisopropyl azodicarboxylate     -   DIEA diisopropylethylamine     -   DMA dimethylacetamide     -   DME dimethoxyethane     -   DMF N,N-dimethylformamide     -   DMP Dess-Martin Periodinane     -   DMSO dimethylsulfoxide     -   EDC N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride     -   EMEM Eagle's minimal essential medium     -   EtOAc ethyl acetate     -   EtOH ethanol     -   g gram     -   h hour(s)     -   H₂O water     -   HATU         (1-[Bis(dimethylamino)methylene]-1H-1,2,3-triazolo[4,5-b]pyridinium         3-oxide hexafluorophosphate)     -   HOAt 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole     -   HPLC high pressure liquid chromatography     -   (Ir[dF(CF₃)ppy]₂(dtbpy))PF₆         [4,4′-Bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine-N1,N1′]bis[3,5-difluoro-2-[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl-N]phenyl-C]Iridium(III)         hexafluorophosphate     -   kg kilogram     -   L liter     -   LC liquid chromatography     -   LCMS liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry     -   LED light-emitting diode     -   MeOH methanol     -   MS mass spectrometry     -   MTBE methyl tert-butyl ether     -   min minutes     -   mL or ml milliliter(s)     -   m/z mass to charge ratio     -   nm nanometer     -   nM nanomolar     -   NMP N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone     -   N normal     -   N₂ nitrogen     -   NaI sodium iodide     -   RPMI Roswell Park Memorial Institute     -   RT, rt, or r.t. room temperature     -   sat. saturated     -   SFC supercritical fluid chromatography     -   TBTU 2-(1H-benzotriazole-1-yl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethylaminium         tetrafluoroborate     -   TEA triethylamine     -   TFA trifluoroacetic acid     -   THE tetrahydrofuran     -   TLC thin layer chromatography     -   TPP triphenyl phosphate

EXAMPLES Example 1. 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(fluoromethyl)-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone

Step 1. tert-butyl 4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate

Nickel(II) iodide (0.273 g, 0.874 mmol), picolinimidamide hydrochloride (0.138 g, 0.874 mmol) and zinc (0.800 g, 12.24 mmol) were charged in a vial. The vial was evacuated and backfilled with N₂. DMA (4 mL) was added and the mixture was stirred for 5 min at RT. Then a solution of 1-iodo-2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzene (1.0 g, 3.50 mmol), tert-butyl 4-iodopiperidine-1-carboxylate (2.176 g, 6.99 mmol), sodium iodide (0.262 g, 1.748 mmol) in DMA (8 mL) was added to the above mixture. The reaction was heated to 100° C. under N₂ for 18 h. The reaction mixture was cooled to RT, and the salt was removed by filtration. The filtrate was diluted with water (50 mL), and extracted with EtOAc (30 mL×3). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (20 mL) and dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash silica gel chromatography (with eluent of 0˜7% Ethyl acetate/Petroleum ether gradient @ 30 mL/min) to give the title compound as an oil. MS (ESI) m/z: 244.1[M−100].

Step 2. 4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidine hydrochloride

To a solution of tert-butyl 4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate (490 mg, 1.427 mmol) in DCM (3 mL) was added 4M HCl (4 mL, 16.00 mmol, in dioxane) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT for 2 h. The solvent was removed in vacuo to give the title compound as a solid, which was used in the next step without further purification. MS (ESI) m/z: 244.0[M+H⁺].

Step 3. 2-chloro-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone

To a solution of 4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidine hydrochloride (399 mg, 1.426 mmol) in DCM (10 mL) were added TEA (0.6 mL, 4.30 mmol) and 2-chloroacetyl chloride (0.2 mL, 2.51 mmol) with stirring at 0° C. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at 0° C. for 2 h. The reaction mixture was washed with water (20 mL). The resulting organic layer was dried with anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated and purified by flash silica gel chromatography (ISCO®; Agela® Flash Column Silica-CS (12 g), with eluent of 0˜30% Ethyl acetate/Petroleum ether gradient @ 30 mL/min) to give the title compound as an oil. MS (ESI) m/z: 320.0[M+H⁺]

Step 4. Ethyl (3bR,4aR)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate

Racemic ethyl-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate was prepared according to a literature procedure (Boatman, P. Douglas et al, J. Med. Chem. 55(8), 3644-3666; 2012). This racemic material was resolved by chiral SFC (chiral column: AD-H, co-solvent: EtOH). The first eluting enantiomer peak was determined to be ethyl (3bR,4aR)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (retention time=2.72 min; chiral column: AD-H 4.6×250 mm; solvent SFC with 40% EtOH). The other enantiomer was eluted as the second peak (retention time=3.64 min).

Step 5. (3bR,4aR)-ethyl 1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate

To a solution of (3bR,4aR)-ethyl 3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (0.19 g, 0.988 mmol) and 2-chloro-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone (0.32 g, 1.001 mmol) in 1,4-dioxane (5 mL) was added Cs₂CO₃ (0.644 g, 1.977 mmol), then the mixture was stirred at 50° C. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at 50° C. for 3 h, the reaction was finished. The mixture was diluted with water (30 mL), and extracted with EtOAc (15 mL×3). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash silica gel chromatography (ISCO®; Agela® Flash Column Silica-CS (12 g), Eluent of 0˜37% Ethyl acetate/Petroleum ether gradient @ 30 mL/min) to give a crude, which was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C18 150×30 mm×4 um column using water (0.1% TFA)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (0.1% TFA), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) to give the title compound as an oil. MS (ESI) m/z: 476.3[M+H⁺].

Step 6. (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid

To a solution of (3bR,4aR)-ethyl 1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (50 mg, 0.105 mmol) in THF (2 mL), MeOH (0.5 mL) and water (1 mL) was added lithium hydroxide (13 mg, 0.543 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirred at RT for 1 h, and the reaction was finished. The reaction was diluted with water (1 mL), acidified with 3N HCl to pH˜6, and extracted with EtOAc (10 mL×3). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine (10 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, after filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as an oil which was used in the next step without further purification. MS (ESI) m/z: 448.1[M+H⁺]

Step 8. 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(fluoromethyl)-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (30 mg, 0.067 mmol) in DCM (3 mL) were added HATU (39 mg, 0.103 mmol), DIEA (0.04 mL, 0.229 mmol), and followed by 4-(fluoromethyl)piperidin-4-ol hydrochloride (12 mg, 0.071 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 15 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. After concentration in vacuo, the residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C18 150×30 mm×4 um column using water (0.1% TFA)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (0.1% TFA), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and lyophilization to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.49 (dd, J=13.6, 8.0 Hz, 2H), 7.29-7.38 (m, 1H), 4.94-5.17 (m, 2H), 4.64 (br d, J=12.8 Hz, 1H), 4.39 (br s, 2H), 4.10-4.28 (m, 2H), 4.07 (br d, J=13.2 Hz, 1H), 3.53 (br s, 1H), 3.32-3.36 (m, 1H), 3.10-3.27 (m, 2H), 2.75-2.98 (m, 3H), 2.48 (s, 3H), 2.14 (br s, 2H), 1.82 (br s, 2H), 1.56-1.76 (m, 6H), 1.12 (br d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 0.32 (br s, 1H); MS (ESI) m/z: 563.3[M+H⁺].

Example 2. 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl) ethanone

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (20 mg, 0.045 mmol) in DCM (3 mL) were added HATU (26 mg, 0.068 mmol), DIEA (0.03 mL, 0.172 mmol) and followed by bypiperidin-4-ol (5 mg, 0.049 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirred at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. After concentrated in vacuo, the residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C18 150×30 mm×4 um column using water (0.1% TFA)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (0.1% TFA), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.49 (dd, J=13.2, 7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.28-7.35 (m, 1H), 4.94-5.18 (m, 2H), 4.63 (br d, J=13.2 Hz, 1H), 4.13-4.31 (m, 2H), 4.06 (br d, J=13.6 Hz, 1H), 3.89 (br s, 1H), 3.48 (br s, 1H), 3.33 (dd, J=6.2, 1.75 Hz, 1H), 3.19-3.29 (m, 2H), 2.72-2.98 (m, 3H), 2.47 (s, 3H), 2.14 (br s, 2H), 1.78-2.01 (m, 4H), 1.58-1.77 (m, 2H), 1.53 (br d, J=5.2 Hz, 2H), 1.12 (td, J=7.6, 5.0 Hz, 1H), 0.26-0.38 (m, 1H); MS (ESI) m/z: 531.3[M+H⁺].

Example 3. 2-hydroxy-1-(4-((3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carbonyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (30 mg, 0.067 mmol) in THF (3 mL) and DMF (1 mL) were added HATU (40 mg, 0.105 mmol), DIEA (0.06 mL, 0.344 mmol) and followed by 2-oxo-2-(piperazin-1-yl)ethyl acetate hydrochloride (20 mg, 0.090 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT for 1 h. Then sodium hydroxide (0.5 mL, 1.000 mmol) (2 M) was added. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. After concentrated in vacuo, the residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C18 150×30 mm×4 um column using water (0.1% TFA)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (0.1% TFA), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.49 (dd, J=13.2, 7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.28-7.37 (m, 1H), 4.95-5.18 (m, 2H), 4.64 (br d, J=12.8 Hz, 1H), 4.28 (br s, 2H), 3.44-4.10 (m, 9H), 3.34 (br s, 1H), 3.20-3.28 (m, 1H), 2.72-2.99 (m, 3H), 2.48 (s, 3H), 2.16 (br s, 2H), 1.83 (br d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 1.58-1.78 (m, 2H), 1.12 (td, J=7.6, 5.2 Hz, 1H), 0.26-0.38 (m, 1H); MS (ESI) m/z: 574.3[M+H⁺].

Example 4. 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-((S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)morpholine-4-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) piperidin-1-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (20 mg, 0.045 mmol) in DMF (3 mL) were added HATU (26 mg, 0.068 mmol), DIEA (0.03 mL, 0.172 mmol), followed by (S)-morpholin-2-ylmethanol hydrochloride (8 mg, 0.052 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. After concentration in vacuo, the residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C18 150×30 mm×4 um column using water (0.1% TFA)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (0.1% TFA), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound as a gum. ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.50 (dd, J=11.6, 7.6 Hz, 2H), 7.29-7.37 (m, 1H), 4.95-5.17 (m, 2H), 4.64 (br d, J=13.6 Hz, 1H), 4.36-4.59 (m, 2H), 3.87-4.11 (m, 2H), 3.50-3.67 (m, 4H), 3.34 (br d, J=6.2 Hz, 1H), 3.20-3.29 (m, 1H), 2.98-3.20 (m, 1H), 2.70-2.98 (m, 4H), 2.48 (s, 3H), 2.16 (br s, 2H), 1.84 (br s, 2H), 1.56-1.78 (m, 2H), 1.08-1.18 (m, 1H), 0.33 (br s, 1H); MS (ESI) m/z: 547.2[M+H⁺].

Example 5. 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-((R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)morpholine-4-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) piperidin-1-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (20 mg, 0.045 mmol) in DCM (3 mL) were added HATU (26 mg, 0.068 mmol), DIEA (0.03 mL, 0.172 mmol) and followed by (R)-morpholin-2-ylmethanol hydrochloride (8 mg, 0.052 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. After concentration in vacuo, the residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C18 150×30 mm×4 um column using water (0.1% TFA)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (0.1% TFA), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.43-7.54 (m, 2H), 7.28-7.36 (m, 1H), 4.95-5.17 (m, 2H), 4.41-4.67 (m, 3H), 3.86-4.12 (m, 2H), 3.48-3.67 (m, 4H), 3.33 (br d, J=4.4 Hz, 1H), 3.20-3.27 (m, 1H), 2.72-3.29 (m, 5H), 2.48 (s, 3H), 2.15 (br s, 2H), 1.82 (br d, J=8.4 Hz, 2H), 1.55-1.77 (m, 2H), 1.07-1.19 (m, 1H), 0.28-0.36 (m, 1H); MS (ESI) m/z: 547.3[M+H⁺].

Example 6. 2-(4-((3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carbonyl)piperazin-1-yl)acetamide

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (20 mg, 0.045 mmol) in DCM (3 mL) were added HATU (26 mg, 0.068 mmol), DIEA (0.03 mL, 0.172 mmol) and followed by 2-(piperazin-1-yl)acetamide (7 mg, 0.049 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. After concentration in vacuo, the residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C18 150×30 mm×4 um column using water (0.1% TFA)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (0.1% TFA), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.49 (dd, J=13.6, 7.8 Hz, 2H), 7.27-7.36 (m, 1H), 4.97-5.18 (m, 2H), 4.63 (br d, J=13.2 Hz, 1H), 4.02 (s, 5H), 3.31-3.84 (m, 6H), 3.19-3.30 (m, 2H), 2.73-2.96 (m, 3H), 2.48 (s, 3H), 2.09-2.24 (m, 2H), 1.56-1.90 (m, 4H), 1.12 (td, J=7.6, 4.8 Hz, 1H), 0.30 (br s, 1H); MS (ESI) m/z: 573.4[M+H⁺].

Example 7. 2-(3-((2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)ethanone

Step 1. 1-benzyl-4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-4-ol

To a solution of 1-bromo-2,3-dimethylbenzene (1.96 g, 10.59 mmol) in THF (12 mL) was added magnesium (0.257 g, 10.57 mmol) and a few iodine crystals at RT under N₂. The mixture was stirred at 70° C. until Mg was consumed (about 30 min) under N₂, then cooled to 0° C. A solution of 1-benzylpiperidin-4-one (1 g, 5.28 mmol) in THE (10 mL) was added dropwise to the above mixture over 30 min. After the addition was complete, the resulting mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 h under N₂ and then warmed to RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at 25° C. for 1.5 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction mixture was quenched with sat. NH₄Cl (50 mL) and extracted by EtOAc (40 mL×3). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine (30 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, after filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (eluting with Petroleum ether/ethyl acetate=5:1) to produce the title compound as an oil. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.27-7.38 (m, 6H), 7.03-7.12 (m, 2H), 3.58 (s, 2H), 2.80 (br d, J=11.4 Hz, 2H), 2.50-2.59 (m, 5H), 2.28 (s, 3H), 2.22 (td, J=12.8, 4.2 Hz, 2H), 1.97-2.04 (m, 2H), 1.48 (s, 1H). MS (ESI) m/z: 296.3 [M+H⁺]

Step 2. 1-benzyl-4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidine

To a stirred solution of 1-benzyl-4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-4-ol (500 mg, 1.693 mmol) in DCM (20 mL) was added DAST (546 mg, 3.39 mmol) at 0° C. under N₂. After the addition was complete, the mixture was warmed to RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 16 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction mixture was quenched with sat. NaHCO₃ (15 mL) slowly, and extracted with DCM (30 mL×2). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine (20 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Xtimate C18 150×25 mm×5 um column using water (10 mM NH₄HCO₃)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (10 mM NH₄HCO₃), Mobile phase B ACN, detection wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound as a gum.

¹HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.30-7.39 (m, 4H), 7.28 (t, J=1.8 Hz, 1H), 7.20 (d, J=7.8 Hz, 1H), 7.04-7.15 (m, 2H), 3.59 (s, 2H), 2.84 (br d, J=11.4 Hz, 2H), 2.52 (br t, J=10.8 Hz, 2H), 2.40 (d, J=2.0 Hz, 3H), 2.24-2.33 (m, 4H), 2.18 (br d, J=10.2 Hz, 3H). MS (ESI) m/z: 298.1 [M+H⁺].

Step 3. 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidine

To a stirred solution of 1-benzyl-4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidine (50 mg, 0.168 mmol) in DCM (2 mL) was added 1-chloroethyl carbonochloridate (30 mg, 0.210 mmol) at RT. After stirring for 1 h at RT, MeOH (2 mL) was added to the mixture, and the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 16 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was diluted with petroleum ether (15 mL), stirred for 10 min, filtered and washed with petroleum ether (5 mL). The filter cake was dried to give the title compound as a solid which was used directly in the next step without further purification. MS (ESI) m/z: 208.1 [M+H⁺].

Step 4. ((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholino)(1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-3-yl)methanone

To the stirred suspension of 1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (2000 mg, 13.14 mmol) in DCM (25 mL) and DMF (25.00 mL) were added HOAt (2684 mg, 19.72 mmol) and EDC (3780 mg, 19.72 mmol). The mixture was stirred at RT for about 20 min until most solids going into solution, then (2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine (3028 mg, 26.3 mmol) was added. The mixture was stirred at RT for about 2 h. The mixture turned clear. LC-Mass showed the desired product as the major product. The mixture was concentrated and loaded onto RediSep C18 415 g gold column and purified by Teledyne Isco system using 0%-100% ACN (buffering with 0.05% TFA)/water (0.05% TFA) as eluent. The title compound was collected as a solid after lyophilization. LCMS m/z (M+H) calc'd: 250.15; found (M+H): 250.21

Step 5. tert-butyl 2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)acetate

To a mixture of ((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholino)(1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-3-yl)methanone (600 mg, 2.407 mmol) in THE (7220 μl) at RT was added NaH (60% in oil, Aldrich) (193 mg, 4.81 mmol). The mixture stirred at RT for about 10 min, then tert-butyl 2-bromoacetate (1174 mg, 6.02 mmol) in THE (2407 μl) was added. The reaction mixture turned cloudy. Then DMF (2407 μl) was added to improve solubility. The reaction was quenched with addition of cold water (10 ml), then the mixture was partitioned between cold water (50 ml) and EtOAc (100 ml). The aqueous was extracted with EtOAc for three times (3×100 ml). Organic phases were combined, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated, and the residue was purified by Isco system using Isco RediSep silica gold column (120 g) and EtOAc-Hexane 0-100% as eluent to afford the title compound as a solid. LCMS m z (M+H) calc'd: 364.22; found (M+H): 364.25

Step 6. 2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)acetic acid

To a stirred solution of tert-butyl 2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)acetate (280 mg, 0.770 mmol) in DCM (3082 μl) was added TFA (2968 μl, 38.5 mmol). The mixture was stirred at RT for about 4 h.

The mixture was concentrated and lyophilized to give the title compound as a solid. LCMS m z (M+H) calc'd: 308.15; found (M+H): 308.18.

Step 7. 2-(3-((2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)ethanone

To a solution of 2-(3-((2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)acetic acid (37 mg, 0.120 mmol) in DCM (3 mL) were added HATU (69 mg, 0.181 mmol), DIEA (47 mg, 0.364 mmol), and followed by 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidine (25 mg, 0.121 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1.5 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Xtimate C18 150×25 mm×5 um column using water (10 mM NH₄HCO₃)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (10 mM NH₄HCO₃), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound as a gum. ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.12-7.22 (m, 2H), 7.04-7.11 (m, 1H), 5.03-5.25 (m, 2H), 4.40-4.61 (m, 3H), 3.98 (br d, J=14.0 Hz, 1H), 3.53-3.68 (m, 3H), 3.12-3.22 (m, 1H), 2.82 (br s, 1H), 2.68-2.77 (m, 4H), 2.56-2.65 (m, 2H), 2.50 (br t, J=12.0 Hz, 1H), 2.39 (d, J=1.8 Hz, 3H), 2.00-2.33 (m, 7H), 1.20 (br d, J=5.8 Hz, 3H), 1.12 (br d, J=6.2 Hz, 3H). MS (ESI) m/z: 519.4 [M+Na⁺].

Example 8. 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)piperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone

Step 1. 2-chloro-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidine (370 mg, 1.785 mmol) and TEA (0.75 mL, 5.38 mmol) in DCM (3 mL) was added 2-chloroacetyl chloride (302 mg, 2.68 mmol) at 0° C. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at 0° C. The reaction was monitored by LC-MS. After stirring at 0° C. for 4 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction mixture was dilute with water (10 mL), and extracted by DCM (10 mL×3). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine, and dried over Na₂SO₄. After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash silica gel chromatography (ISCO; 12 g Agela Silica Flash Column, eluted with 28% EtOAc/Petroleum ether gradient @ 30 mL/min) to give the title compound as an oil. MS (ESI) m/z: 284.1[M+H⁺].

Step 2. (3bR,4aR)-ethyl 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate

To a stirred solution of 2-chloro-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)ethanone (360 mg, 1.269 mmol) and Cs₂CO₃ (620 mg, 1.903 mmol) in 1,4-Dioxane (3 mL) was added (3bR,4aR)-ethyl 3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (244 mg, 1.269 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at 50° C. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at 50° C. for 3 h, the reaction was finished. The mixture was diluted with water (30 mL), and extracted with ethyl acetate (15 mL×3). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash silica gel chromatography (ISCO©; Agela© Flash Column Silica-CS (12 g), Eluent of 0˜37% Ethyl acetate/Petroleum ether gradient @ 30 mL/min) to give the title compound as an oil. MS (ESI) m/z: 440.2[M+H⁺]

Step 3. (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-ethyl 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (150 mg, 0.341 mmol) in THE (4 mL), water (2 mL), and MeOH (0.5 mL) was added lithium hydroxide (25 mg, 1.044 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction was diluted with water (10 mL), acidified with 1N HCl to pH=5 and extracted by ethyl acetate (20 mL×2). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine (10 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄. After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as a solid. MS (ESI) m/z: 412.3[M+H⁺];

Step 4. 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)piperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (20 mg, 0.049 mmol) and HATU (19 mg, 0.050 mmol) in DCM (1 mL) were added 2-(piperidin-4-yloxy)ethanol (7.06 mg, 0.049 mmol) and DIEA (0.03 mL, 0.172 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LC-MS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction mixture was concentrated to give a residue. The residue was purified by reverse phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Xtimate C18 150×25 mm×5 um column using water-ACN, followed by lyophilization to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.12-7.20 (m, 2H), 7.05-7.10 (m, 1H), 4.94-5.20 (m, 2H), 4.50 (br d, J=12.7 Hz, 1H), 3.91-4.19 (m, 3H), 3.38-3.74 (m, 8H), 3.11-3.21 (m, 1H), 2.86-2.97 (m, 1H), 2.71-2.83 (m, 1H), 2.39 (s, 3H), 2.18-2.32 (m, 6H), 2.01-2.18 (m, 3H), 1.9 (br s, 2H), 1.62 (br s, 2H), 1.03-1.19 (m, 1H), 0.30 (br s, 1H). MS (ESI) m/z: 539.3[M+H⁺]

Example 9. 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (25 mg, 0.063 mmol) (prepared according to procedures similar to ones described above) in DCM (3 mL) were added HATU (35 mg, 0.092 mmol), DIEA (0.04 mL, 0.229 mmol) and followed by piperidin-4-ol (7 mg, 0.069 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. The solvent was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Xtimate C18 150×25 mm×5 um column using water (10 mM NH₄HCO₃)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (10 mM NH₄HCO₃), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound as a gum. ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.12-7.21 (m, 2H), 7.04-7.11 (m, 1H), 5.16-5.23 (m, 1H), 5.02-5.10 (m, 1H), 4.51 (br d, J=11.0 Hz, 1H) 4.11-4.35 (m, 2H) 3.98 (br d, J=12.8 Hz, 1H), 3.82-3.92 (m, 1H), 3.57-3.67 (m, 1H), 3.49 (br s, 1H), 3.11-3.29 (m, 2H), 2.68-2.78 (m, 4H), 2.60 (q, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 2.39 (d, J=1.8 Hz, 3H), 2.07-2.33 (m, 7H), 1.90 (br s, 2H), 1.49 (br s, 2H); MS (ESI) m/z: 483.2 [M+H⁺].

Example 10. 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (20 mg, 0.049 mmol) and HATU (19 mg, 0.050 mmol) in DCM (1 mL) were added piperidin-4-ol (4.92 mg, 0.049 mmol) and DIEA (0.03 mL, 0.172 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LC-MS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished. Then the solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Xtimate C18 150×25 mm×5 um column using water-ACN, followed by lyophilization to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.12-7.20 (m, 2H), 7.05-7.10 (m, 1H), 4.95-5.21 (m, 2H), 4.50 (br d, J=10.5 Hz, 1H), 4.23 (br s, 2H), 3.84-4.03 (m, 2H), 3.39-3.66 (m, 2H), 3.08-3.28 (m, 2H), 2.86-2.98 (m, 1H), 2.72-2.83 (m, 1H), 2.39 (s, 3H), 2.06-2.33 (m, 9H), 1.92 (br s, 2H), 1.51 (br s, 2H), 1.04-1.18 (m, 1H), 0.31 (br s, 1H); MS (ESI) m/z: 495.2[M+H⁺]

Example 11. 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone

Step 1. 2-oxo-2-(piperazin-1-yl)ethyl acetate hydrochloride

To a solution of tert-butyl 4-(2-acetoxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carboxylate (30 mg, 0.105 mmol) in DCM (1 mL) was added 4M HCl (1 mL, 4.00 mmol, in dioxane) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by TLC (Petroleum ether/Ethyl acetate=1:1). After stirring at RT for 15 h, the reaction was finished. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure, the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and basified with DIEA to pH˜ 8. The dichloromethane was removed under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a solid, which was used in the next step without further purification.

Step 2. 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone

To a solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (20 mg, 0.049 mmol) in DCM (2 mL) were added HATU (30 mg, 0.079 mmol), 2-oxo-2-(piperazin-1-yl)ethyl acetate (23 mg, 0.124 mmol) and DIEA (19 mg, 0.147 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT for 2 h. Then dichloromethane was removed under reduced pressure, and THF (2 mL) and NaOH (0.5 mL, 1.000 mmol) were added at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 5 h, the reaction was finished. The solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by reverse phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C₁₈ column (150×25 mm×5 μm) using water and ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water, Mobile phase B ACN, detection wavelength: 220 nm) followed by freeze-drying to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.05-7.21 (m, 3H), 5.14 (br d, J=11.8 Hz, 1H), 5.04 (br d, J=15.4 Hz, 1H), 4.63 (br s, 3H), 4.51 (br d, J=10.0 Hz, 1H), 4.24 (br s, 2H), 3.95 (br d, J=15.0 Hz, 2H), 3.48-3.79 (m, 7H), 3.11-3.22 (m, 1H), 2.88-2.96 (m, 1H), 2.74-2.81 (m, 1H), 2.39 (s, 3H), 2.29 (s, 3H), 2.17 (br s, 4H), 1.30 (br s, 1H), 1.11 (s, 1H), 0.31 (br s, 1H); MS (ESI) m/z: 538.0 [M+H⁺].

Example 12. N-(1-((3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)acetamide

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (20 mg, 0.049 mmol) and HATU (19 mg, 0.050 mmol) in DCM (1 mL) were added N-(piperidin-4-yl)acetamide (7 mg, 0.049 mmol) and DIEA (0.03 mL, 0.172 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished. The solvent was removed in vacuo. The residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Xtimate C18 150×25 mm×5 um column using water-ACN, followed by lyophilization to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.12-7.21 (m, 2H), 7.04-7.11 (m, 1H), 4.95-5.20 (m, 2H), 4.50 (br d, J=13.2 Hz, 3H), 3.95 (br d, J=11.4 Hz, 2H), 3.35-3.68 (m, 2H), 3.11-3.24 (m, 1H), 2.85-3.11 (m, 2H), 2.72-2.83 (m, 1H), 2.39 (s, 3H), 2.01-2.33 (m, 9H), 1.93 (s, 5H), 1.45 (br d, J=11.0 Hz, 2H), 1.12 (br d, J=4.8 Hz, 1H), 0.31 (br d, J=4.0 Hz, 1H). MS (ESI) m/z: 536.2[M+H⁺].

Example 13. 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-aminopiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4] cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)ethanone

Step 1. tert-butyl (1-((3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)carbamate

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (20 mg, 0.049 mmol) in DCM (3 mL) were added HATU (28 mg, 0.074 mmol), DIEA (0.03 mL, 0.172 mmol) and followed by tert-butyl piperidin-4-ylcarbamate (11 mg, 0.055 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 15 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. Then the solvent was removed in vacuo to give the title compound as an oil which was used in the next step without further purification. MS (ESI) m/z: 594.5[M+H⁺].

Step 2. 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-aminopiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)ethanone

To a solution of 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-aminopiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)ethanone (25 mg, 0.051 mmol) in DCM (2 mL) was added 4 M HCl (1 mL, 4.00 mmol, in dioxane) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 18 h, the reaction was finished. Then the solvent was removed in vacuo, the residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C18 150×30 mm×4 um column using water (0.1% TFA)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (0.1% TFA), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and lyophilization to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 6.86-7.20 (m, 3H), 5.00-5.20 (m, 2H), 4.06-4.84 (m, 4H), 3.55-3.99 (m, 2H), 3.38-3.48 (m, 1H), 3.12-3.30 (m, 2H), 2.85-2.97 (m, 2H), 2.72-2.83 (m, 1H), 1.99-2.44 (m, 13H), 1.59 (br d, J=12.2 Hz, 2H), 1.07-1.17 (m, 1H), 0.32 (br s, 1H); MS (ESI) m/z: 516.0[M+Na⁺].

Examples 14 and 15. 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, isomer 1 and isomer 2

Step 1. tert-butyl 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-5,6-dihydropyridine-1(2H)-carboxylate

To a solution of tert-butyl 4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)-5,6-dihydropyridine-1(2H)-carboxylate (5.0 g, 16.17 mmol) in dioxane (50 mL) and water (10 mL) were added 1-bromo-2,3-dimethylbenzene (2.99 g, 16.17 mmol), Pd(dppf)Cl₂ (0.592 g, 0.809 mmol) and K₂CO₃ (6.35 g, 45.9 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at 100° C. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at 100° C. for 15 h, the reaction was finished. The solvent was removed, diluted with water (50 mL), and extracted with EtOAc (30 mL×3). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine (30 mL), and dried over Na₂SO₄. After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (SiO2, pet.ether:EtOAc=100:1 to 60:1) to give the title compound as a solid. ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.06-7.11 (m, 2H), 6.94 (dd, J=6.3, 2.8 Hz, 1H), 5.53 (br s, 1H), 4.05 (br s, 2H), 3.64 (br t, J=5.4 Hz, 2H), 2.34 (br s, 2H), 2.30 (s, 3H), 2.18 (s, 3H), 1.53 (s, 9H); MS (ESI) m/z: 232.1[M−56].

Step 2. tert-butyl 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3-hydroxypiperidine-1-carboxylate

To a solution of tert-butyl 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-5,6-dihydropyridine-1(2H)-carboxylate (3.1 g, 10.79 mmol) in THE (30 mL) was added borane (3.24 mL, 32.4 mmol) (10 M in Me₂S) at 0° C. under N₂. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT for 16 h. Then NaOH (16.18 mL, 2 M in water) was added, after stirring at RT for 10 min, H₂O₂(36.7 g, 30% in water) was added and then stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 5 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction was quenched with aq. Na₂SO₃ (20 mL), diluted with water (20 mL), and extracted with EtOAc (20 mL×3). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine (30 mL), and dried over Na₂SO₄. After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by silica gel chromatography (Petroleum ether/Ethyl acetate=20:1 to 8:1) to give the title compound as an oil. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.10-7.16 (m, 2H), 7.05-7.09 (m, 1H), 3.84 (br s, 1H), 2.92-3.00 (m, 1H), 2.60-2.86 (m, 2H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 2.29 (s, 3H), 1.72-1.80 (m, 1H), 1.70 (d, J=2.6 Hz, 1H), 1.65 (br s, 1H), 1.59 (br s, 1H), 1.50 (s, 9H); MS (ESI) m/z: 328.0 [M+Na⁺]j.

Step 3. tert-butyl 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3-oxopiperidine-1-carboxylate

To a solution of tert-butyl 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3-hydroxypiperidine-1-carboxylate (1.7 g, 5.57 mmol) in DCM (25 mL) at 0° C. were added NaHCO₃ (1.403 g, 16.70 mmol) followed by Dess-Martin Periodinane (3.54 g, 8.35 mmol). Then the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by TLC (Petroleum ether/Ethyl acetate=5:1). After stirring at RT for 15 h, the reaction was finished. Sat. aq. NaHCO₃ (20 mL) was added, then the mixture was stirred at RT for 15 min, and extracted with DCM (20 mL). The organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by column chromatography on silica gel (SiO₂), eluting with petroleum ether/EtOAc=40:1 to 20:1 to give the title compound as an oil. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.09-7.12 (m, 2H), 6.88-6.92 (m, 1H), 4.27-4.33 (m, 1H), 4.00-4.16 (m, 2H), 3.80-3.88 (m, 1H), 3.48 (br s, 1H), 2.31 (s, 3H), 2.27 (br dd, J=8.6, 4.4 Hz, 2H), 2.12 (s, 3H), 1.51 (s, 9H).

Step 4. tert-butyl 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidine-1-carboxylate

To a solution of tert-butyl 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3-oxopiperidine-1-carboxylate (810 mg, 2.67 mmol) in DCM (10 mL) was added DAST (1.76 mL, 13.32 mmol) at 0° C. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 15 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction was quenched with NaHCO₃ (10 mL), diluted with water (10 mL), and extracted with DCM (10 mL×2). The resulting organic layer was dried with anhydrous Na₂SO₄ and filtered, and the filtrate was concentrated and purified by silica column chromatography (petroleum ether:ethyl acetate=50:1) to give the title compound as an oil. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.23 (br s, 1H), 7.12 (d, J=4.8 Hz, 2H), 4.40 (br s, 1H), 3.35-3.52 (m, 1H), 2.76-3.19 (m, 2H), 2.32 (s, 3H), 2.26 (s, 3H), 2.14-2.24 (m, 1H), 1.78 (br d, J=14.0 Hz, 1H), 1.50 (s, 9H). MS (ESI) m/z: 311.1[M−14].

Step 5. 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidine hydrochloride

To a solution of tert-butyl 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidine-1-carboxylate (410 mg, 1.260 mmol) in DCM (10 mL) and MeOH (2 mL) was added 4 M HCl (4 mL, 16.00 mmol, in dioxane) at 0° C. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 5 h, the reaction was finished. The solvent was removed to give the title compound as a solid, which was used in the next step without further purification. MS (ESI) m/z: 226.1[M+H⁺].

Step 6. 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3S,4R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one

To a stirred solution of 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidine hydrochloride (330 mg, 1.261 mmol) in DCM (5 mL) were added DIEA (0.66 mL, 3.78 mmol), 2-(3-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)acetic acid (300 mg, 1.261 mmol) and HATU (527 mg, 1.387 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 15 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution, then washed with water (10 mL). The organic layer was dried with anhydrous Na₂SO₄, then concentrated and purified by silica column chromatography (petroleum ether:ethyl acetate=10:1 to 2:1) to give the title compound as an oil. MS (ESI) m/z: 446.3[M+H⁺].

After SFC separation, two chiral isomers were obtained. Peak 1: retention time: 1.585 min Peak 2: retention time: 2.201 min Column: AD (250 mm*50 mm, 10 um) Mobile phase: A: CO₂ B: MeOH (0.1% NH₃H₂O) Gradient: Begin B 40% End B 40% Flow rate: 200 mL/min; Column temperature: 40° C.

Step 7. 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid

To a solution of ethyl 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (30 mg, 0.067 mmol, peak1 with retention time: 1.585 min) in THF (4 mL) and water (2 mL) was added lithium hydroxide (15 mg, 0.626 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by TLC (petroleum ether:ethyl acetate=1:1). After stirring at RT for 2 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction was diluted with water (10 mL), acidified with 3N HCl to pH˜ 7, and extracted by EtOAc (10 mL×3). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine (10 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, after filtration, and the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as an oil, which was used in the next step without further purification. MS (ESI) m/z: 418.2 [M+H⁺].

Step 8. 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (25 mg, 0.060 mmol) in DCM (2 mL) were added HATU (34.2 mg, 0.090 mmol), DIEA (0.03 mL, 0.172 mmol) and piperidin-4-ol (10 mg, 0.099 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. The solvent was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C18 150×30 mm×4 um column using water (0.1% TFA)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (0.1% TFA), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound (Example A14) as an oil. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.14 (br s, 1H), 7.02-7.10 (m, 2H), 5.05-5.28 (m, 2H), 4.61-4.84 (m, 1H), 4.10-4.35 (m, 3H), 3.40-3.93 (m, 4H), 2.89-3.26 (m, 2H), 2.72 (br d, J=6.2 Hz, 4H), 2.61 (br d, J=7.0 Hz, 2H), 2.26-2.33 (m, 6H), 2.07-2.23 (m, 1H), 1.79-1.96 (m, 3H), 1.50 (br s, 2H); MS (ESI) m/z: 501.1[M+H⁺].

Following the procedures described above, the other enantiomer of 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c] pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone (Example 15) was prepared from the Peak 2 of the ethyl ester obtained in Step 6. ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.02-7.19 (m, 3H), 5.04-5.30 (m, 2H), 4.58-4.84 (m, 1H), 4.10-4.35 (m, 3H), 3.59-3.95 (m, 3H), 3.35-3.56 (m, 2H), 2.90-3.29 (m, 2H), 2.73 (br d, J=6.0 Hz, 4H), 2.62 (br d, J=6.8 Hz, 2H), 2.26-2.35 (m, 6H), 2.05-2.24 (m, 1H), 1.80-1.92 (m, 2H), 1.43-1.57 (m, 2H); MS (ESI) m/z 501.1 [M+H⁺].

Example 16. 1-(4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-trien-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone

Step 1. 2-iodobicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-triene

To a solution of 1-fluoro-2-(2-iodoethyl)benzene (1.0 g, 4.00 mmol) in diethyl ether (2 mL) and pentane (10 mL) was added tert-butyllithium (9.23 mL, 12.00 mmol) (1.3 M in pentane). The mixture was stirred at −78° C. for 15 min. Then THF (4.5 mL) was added. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for another 0.5 h. 1,2-Diiodoethane (1.691 g, 6.00 mmol) in THF (2 mL) and pentane (2 mL) was added to the mixture and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. The reaction was monitored by TLC (petroleum ether). After stirring at 0° C. for 1.5 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction was diluted with aq. NH₄Cl (30 mL), and extracted with Et₂O (30 mL×3). The organic layer was collected and washed with brine (10 mL), dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered then concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by silica column chromatography (petroleum ether) to give the title compound. ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.46-7.53 (m, 1H), 7.03 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 6.90-6.95 (m, 1H), 3.34-3.39 (m, 1H), 3.20-3.25 (m, 1H), 3.02-3.10 (m, 4H).

Step 2. tert-butyl 4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trien-2-yl)piperidine-1-carboxylate

Nickel(II) iodide (68 mg, 0.218 mmol), picolinimidamide hydrochloride (35 mg, 0.222 mmol) and zinc (199 mg, 3.04 mmol) were charged in a vial. The vial was evacuated and backfilled with N₂, DMA (3 mL) was added, and the reaction was stirred for 5 min at RT. Then 2-iodobicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-triene (200 mg, 0.869 mmol), tert-butyl 4-iodopiperidine-1-carboxylate (541 mg, 1.739 mmol) and sodium iodide (65 mg, 0.434 mmol) in DMA (3 mL) were added to the above mixture. The reaction was heated to 100° C. under nitrogen. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at 100° C. for 18 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction mixture was cooled to RT and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Agela ASB 150×25 mm×5 um column using water (0.1% TFA) and ACN as eluents, followed by concentration to give the title compound as an oil. ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.15 (t, J=7.6 Hz, 1H), 6.99 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.92 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 4.23 (br s, 2H), 3.15-3.24 (m, 4H), 2.79 (br t, J=11.4 Hz, 2H), 2.63 (tt, J=12.2, 3.6 Hz, 1H), 1.84 (br d, J=13.2 Hz, 2H), 1.63-1.71 (m, 2H), 1.60 (s, 4H), 1.49 (s, 9H); MS (ESI) m/z 288.1 [M+H⁺]

Step 3. 4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-trien-2-yl)piperidine hydrochloride

A mixture of tert-butyl 4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-trien-2-yl)piperidine-1-carboxylate (45 mg, 0.157 mmol) and 4 M HCl (2 mL, 8.00 mmol, in dioxane) was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by TLC (Petroleum ether/EtOAc=5:1). After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished to afford a suspension. The reaction mixture was concentrated under reduced pressure to give the title compound as a solid which was used in the next step without further purification.

Step 3. ethyl 1-(2-(4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-trien-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate

To a stirred solution of 2-(3-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)acetic acid (37 mg, 0.155 mmol) in DCM (3 mL) were added HATU (89 mg, 0.233 mmol), DIEA (0.08 mL, 0.458 mmol), followed by 4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-trien-2-yl)piperidine hydrochloride (35 mg, 0.156 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1.5 h, the reaction was finished. The solvent was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by pre-TLC (Petroleum ether/EtOAc=1:1) to give the title compound as a gum. MS (ESI) m/z 408.2 [M+H⁺].

Step 4. 1-(2-(4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-trien-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid

To a stirred solution of ethyl 1-(2-(4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-trien-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (20 mg, 0.049 mmol) in THF (2 mL), water (1 mL) and MeOH (1 mL) was added lithium hydroxide hydrate (6 mg, 0.143 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. The reaction mixture was diluted with water (10 mL), acidified with aq. HCl (1 M) to pH=3, and extracted with EtOAc (20 mL×2). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine (10 mL), and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as a solid which was used into the next step directly without further purification. MS (ESI) m/z 380.1 [M+H⁺].

Step 5. 1-(4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-trien-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one

To a stirred solution of 1-(2-(4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-trien-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (21 mg, 0.055 mmol) in DCM (3 mL) were added HATU (32 mg, 0.084 mmol), DIEA (0.03 mL, 0.172 mmol) and followed by piperidin-4-ol (6 mg, 0.059 mmol) at RT. After the addition was finished, the mixture was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 1.5 h, the reaction was finished to afford a solution. The reaction was concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue was purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Xtimate C18 150×25 mm×5 um column using water (10 mM NH₄HCO₃)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (10 mM NH₄HCO₃), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound as a gum. ¹HNMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.07-7.14 (m, 1H), 6.99 (d, J=8.0 Hz, 1H), 6.86 (d, J=7.2 Hz, 1H), 5.11-5.19 (m, 1H), 4.98-5.05 (m, 1H), 4.58 (br s, 1H), 4.30 (br d, J=13.6 Hz, 1H), 4.17 (br d, J=10.6 Hz, 1H), 4.07 (br d, J=13.8 Hz, 1H), 3.87 (tt, J=8.4, 4.0 Hz, 1H), 3.49 (br s, 1H), 3.11-3.29 (m, 6H), 2.68-2.87 (m, 6H), 2.55-2.65 (m, 2H), 1.92 (br d, J=14.2 Hz, 4H), 1.57-1.76 (m, 2H), 1.50 (br s, 2H); MS (ESI) m/z 463.2 [M+H⁺].

Example 17. 1-(4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone

Step 1. tert-butyl 4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate

Nickel(II) iodide (3.09 g, 9.90 mmol), tert-butyl 4-iodopiperidine-1-carboxylate (24.65 g, 79 mmol) and zinc (9.06 g, 139 mmol) were charged in a vial. The vial was evacuated and backfilled with N₂. DMA (50 mL) was added and the reaction was stirred for 5 min at RT, then a solution of 1-chloro-3-iodo-2-methylbenzene (10.0 g, 39.6 mmol), tert-butyl 4-iodopiperidine-1-carboxylate (24.65 g, 79 mmol), and sodium iodide (2.97 g, 19.80 mmol) in DMA (150 mL) was added to the above mixture. The reaction was heated to 100° C. under N₂. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at 100° C. for 14 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction was cooled to RT, diluted with EtOAc (100 mL) and filtered. The filtrate was diluted with water (600 mL), and extracted with EtOAc (150 mL×3). The combined organic layer was washed with brine (100 mL), dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated. The residue was purified by flash silica gel chromatography (ISCO®; Agela® Flash Column Silica-CS (120 g), Eluent of 0-10% Ethyl acetate/Petroleum ether gradient @ 40 mL/min) to give the title compound as an oil. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 7.24 (dd, J=7.2, 2.0 Hz, 1H), 7.07-7.14 (m, 2H), 4.27 (br s, 2H), 2.75-2.96 (m, 3H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 1.75 (br d, J=13.2 Hz, 2H), 1.65 (br s, 2H), 1.49 (s, 9H); MS (ESI) m/z: 254.1 [M−56].

Step 2. 4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidine hydrochloride

To a stirred solution of tert-butyl 4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidine-1-carboxylate (1.0 g, 3.23 mmol) in DCM (5 mL) was added 4M HCl (5 mL, 20.00 mmol, in dioxane) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LC-MS. After stirring at RT for 15 h, the reaction was finished. The solvent was removed to give the title compound as a solid, which was used in the next step without further purification. MS (ESI) m/z: 210.1[M+H⁺].

Step 3. 2-chloro-1-(4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of 4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidine hydrochloride (0.79 g, 3.21 mmol) in DCM (10 mL) were added TEA (1.4 mL, 10.04 mmol) and 2-chloroacetyl chloride (0.4 mL, 5.03 mmol) at 0° C. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at 0° C. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at 0° C. for 3 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction was washed with water (20 mL×2), and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by flash silica gel chromatography (ISCO®; Agela® Flash Column Silica-CS (4 g), Eluent of 0-25% Ethyl acetate/Petroleum ether gradient @ 30 mL/min) to give the title compound as a an oil. MS (ESI) m/z: 286.1[M+H⁺].

Step 4. (3bR,4aR)-ethyl 1-(2-(4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-ethyl 3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (100 mg, 0.520 mmol) in DMF (2 mL) were added Cs₂CO₃ (254 mg, 0.780 mmol) and 2-chloro-1-(4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone (149 mg, 0.520 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at 100° C. The reaction was monitored by TLC (petroleum ether:EtOAc=1:1). After stirring at 100° C. for 1 h, the reaction was finished. After cooled to RT, the reaction was diluted with water (20 mL) and extracted by EtOAc (10 mL×2). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine (10 mL), and dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄. After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo. The residue was purified by prep-TLC (Petroleum ether:EtOAc=1:1) to give the title compound as an oil. MS (ESI) m/z: 442.3[M+H⁺].

Step 5. (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid

To a solution of (3bR,4aR)-ethyl 1-(2-(4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (30 mg, 0.068 mmol) in THF (4 mL) and water (2 mL) were added lithium hydroxide (10 mg, 0.418 mmol) and ethanol (0.5 mL) at RT. After the addition was finished, the reaction was stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS, after stirring at RT for 8 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction was diluted with water (10 mL), acidified with 3N HCl to pH˜ 7, and extracted by EtOAc (10 mL×3). The organic layers were collected, washed with brine (10 mL), and dried over Na₂SO₄. After filtration, the filtrate was concentrated in vacuo to give the title compound as an oil, which was used in the next step without further purification. MS (ESI) m/z: 414.2[M+H⁺].

Step 6. 1-(4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone

To a stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (28 mg, 0.068 mmol) in DCM (1 mL) and DMF (0.5 mL) were added HATU (35 mg, 0.092 mmol), 2-oxo-2-(piperazin-1-yl)ethyl acetate hydrochloride (16 mg, 0.072 mmol) and DIEA (0.04 mL, 0.229 mmol) at RT. After the addition was complete, the mixture was stirred at RT for 15 h. Then THF (1 mL) and sodium hydroxide (0.1 mL, 0.200 mmol)(2N) were added and then stirred at RT. The reaction was monitored by LCMS. After stirring at RT for 0.5 h, the reaction was finished. The reaction was diluted with water (10 mL) and extracted with EtOAc (5 mL×4). The organic layer was separated, dried over Na₂SO₄, and filtered. The filtrate was concentrated and purified by reversed phase HPLC on a GILSON 281 instrument fitted with a Phenomenex Synergi C18 150×30 mm×4 um column using water (0.1% TFA)-ACN as eluents (Mobile phase A water (0.1% TFA), Mobile phase B ACN, Detective wavelength 220 nm) and concentration to give the title compound as a solid. ¹H NMR (400 MHz, CD₃OD) δ 7.19-7.25 (m, 1H), 7.10-7.17 (m, 2H), 4.94-5.16 (m, 2H), 4.62 (br d, J=14.0 Hz, 1H), 4.27 (br d, J=11.0 Hz, 2H), 3.93-4.10 (m, 3H), 3.61-3.82 (m, 4H), 3.50 (br s, 2H), 3.26 (s, 1H), 3.16 (br t, J=11.8 Hz, 1H), 2.72-2.97 (m, 3H), 2.43 (s, 3H), 2.16 (br d, J=5.2 Hz, 2H), 1.84 (br s, 2H), 1.51-1.74 (m, 2H), 1.12 (td, J=7.6, 4.8 Hz, 1H), 0.27-0.38 (m, 1H); MS (ESI) m/z: 540.0[M+H⁺].

Example 18. 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[4-(hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one

Step 1. 2-chloro-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one

A suspension of K₂CO₃ (10.95 g, 79 mmol) in THF (35.2 ml) was cooled to 0° C. Chloroacetyl chloride (4.63 ml, 58.1 mmol) was added. To this mixture was added 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidine (10 g, 52.8 mmol) in THE (70.4 ml) dropwise via additional funnel. The mixture was warmed up slowly and stirred overnight. The reaction was diluted with EtOAc, washed with water, and brine. The aqueous was extracted with EtOAc(2×), and the organic was washed with brine. The combined organics were dried (Na₂SO₄), filtered, and concentrated. During rotovaporating, precipitate appeared. The solid was filtered off and discarded. The solution was concentrated and dry-loaded to silica gel (300 g) and eluted with EtOAc/hex 5-100% (4500 mL) to afford the title compound as an oil.

Step 2. ethyl (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate

To a solution of ethyl (3bR,4aR)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (2 g, 10.41 mmol) in DMF (4 ml) was added NaH (0.499 g, 12.49 mmol) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred for 10 min at RT. 2-Chloro-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone (3.04 g, 11.45 mmol) was added at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at RT for 5 h before quenched with water at 0° C., and partitioned between EtOAc and water. The organic layer was concentrated, purified on normal phase chromatography with 0 to 100% EtOAc in hexane. The title compound was isolated and concentrated as an oil. MS (ESI) m/z: 422.34 (M+1).

Step 3. (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid

To a solution of (3bR,4aR)-ethyl 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (520 mg, 1.234 mmol) in THE (0.500 ml) and MeOH (0.5 ml) was added LiOH (1.234 ml, 1.850 mmol). The mixture was stirred at RT for 3 h. THE and MeOH were removed under rotovap, and diluted with EtOAc and 10% HCl. The organic layer was collected, dried with MgSO₄, filtered, and concentrated to give the title compound as a solid. MS (ESI) m/z: 394.35 (M+1).

Step 4. 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethan-1-one

To the stirred solution of (3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid and HOAt (12.45 mg, 0.091 mmol) and EDC (17.54 mg, 0.091 mmol) in DCM (2 ml) and DMF (0.500 ml) were added 2-hydroxy-1-(piperazin-1-yl)ethanone (16.49 mg, 0.114 mmol) and DIEA (0.040 ml, 0.229 mmol). The mixture was stirred at RT for 2 h before acidified with a few drops of TFA. The mixture was purified directly by column chromatography on C18 (5-95% MeCN/water with 0.05% TFA modifier) to afford the title compound. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, Methanol-d₄) δ 7.18-6.85 (m, 3H), 5.22-4.93 (m, 2H), 4.64 (d, J=13.0 Hz, 1H), 4.28 (d, J=20.0 Hz, 2H), 4.13-3.90 (m, 3H), 3.73 (d, J=49.6 Hz, 4H), 3.51 (d, J=25.0 Hz, 2H), 3.29 (m, 2H), 3.17 (t, J=12.0 Hz, 1H), 2.95 (dd, J=16.5, 6.3 Hz, 1H), 2.90-2.67 (m, 2H), 2.30 (d, J=5.9 Hz, 5H), 2.23-2.06 (m, 2H), 1.83 (d, J=8.9 Hz, 2H), 1.75-1.49 (m, 2H), 1.14 (td, J=7.7, 5.0 Hz, 1H), 0.34 (s, 1H). MS (ESI) m/z: 520.42 (M+1).

The examples in the following table were prepared in an analogous manner to Example 18 using appropriate starting materials described previously or commercially available.

Ex. Mass # Structure Chemical Name [M + H]+ 19

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3R,4R)-4- hydroxy-3-methylpiperidine-1- carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 491.3, found 491.4 20

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3R,4S)-4- hydroxy-3-methylpiperidine-1- carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 491.3, found 491.4 21

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3S,4S)-4- hydroxy-3-methylpiperidine-1- carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 491.3, found 491.4 22

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3S,4R)-4- hydroxy-3-methylpiperidine-1- carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 491.3, found 491.4 23

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3S,4S)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]- 3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 495.3, found 495.4 24

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3R,4R)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]- 3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 495.3, found 495.4 25

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3S,4R)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]- 3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 495.3, found 495.4 26

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3R,4S)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]- 3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 495.3, found 495.4 27

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bS,4aS)-3-[(3S,4R)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]- 3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 495.3, found 495.4 28

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bS,4aS)-3-[4- (hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl]- 3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 520.3, found 520.4 29

1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{(3bS,4aS)-3-[(3R,4S)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]- 3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H- cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2- c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 495.3, found 495.4 30

1-(4-cyclohexylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 457.3, found 457.4

Example 31. 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-1-piperidyl]-2-[3-[4-(fluoromethyl)-4-hydroxy-piperidine-1-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1-yl]ethanone

Step 1. Ethyl 1-(2-(tert-butoxy)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate

To the stirred mixture of ethyl 1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[C]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (3000 mg, 16.65 mmol) and NaH (60% in oil) (866 mg, 21.64 mmol) was added THF (49.9 mL) at 0° C. in the presence of N₂. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for about 20 min, then tert-butyl bromoacetate (4546 mg, 23.31 mmol) in THE (16.63 mL) was added. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 h, then at RT for about 2 h. The reaction was quenched with 10 ml of cold water, then the mixture was partitioned between EtOAc (100 ml) and cold water (50 ml). The aqueous was extracted with EtOAc for three times (100 ml×3). Organic phases were combined and washed with sat. NaCl (50 ml). The organic phase was separated, dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated. The residue was purified by Isco system using 120 g ISCO RediSep silica gel gold column, eluting with 0-100% EtOAc/hexane to give the titled compound as a solid. LCMS m/z (M+H) calc'd: 295.16; found (M+H): 295.22

Step 2. 2-(3-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)acetic acid

To the stirred solution of ethyl 1-(2-(tert-butoxy)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (2350 mg, 7.98 mmol) in DCM (31.9 ml) was added TFA (30.8 ml, 399 mmol) at RT. The mixture was stirred at RT for about 3 h. LCMS showed reaction was completed. The mixture was concentrated in vacuo, and the residue was re-dissolved in HPLC grade acetonitrile-water (3:1, 60 ml), then lyophilized to give the title compound as a solid. LCMS m/z (M+H) calc'd: 239.10; found (M+H): 239.18.

Step 3. Ethyl 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate

To a stirred suspension of 2-(3-(ethoxycarbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)acetic acid (600 mg, 2.52 mmol), HOAt (514 mg, 3.78 mmol) and EDC (724 mg, 3.78 mmol) in DCM (16.8 ml) were added DIEA (0.880 ml, 5.04 mmol) and 4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidine HCl salt (597 mg, 2.64 mmol). The mixture was stirred at RT for 3 h. The mixture turned clear. LC-MS showed the desired product as the major product. The mixture was concentrated and purified by chromatography using Teledyne ISCO system, 120 g silica gold column and 0-100% EtOAc in hexane as the eluting solvent. The desired product was collected as a solid after concentration in vacuo. LCMS m/z (M+H) calc'd: 410.24; found (M+H): 410.34

Step 4. 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid

To a stirred solution of ethyl 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylate (860 mg, 2.100 mmol) in THE (13.1 ml) and MeOH (6.55 ml) were added water (6.55 ml) and lithium hydroxide monohydrate (441 mg, 10.50 mmol) at RT. The mixture was stirred at RT for about 4 h. LCMS showed desired product as the major product. The reaction was neutralized with the addition of HCl (6.0 M in water) (1.750 ml, 10.50 mmol), then concentrated and purified by reversed HPLC (Teledyne Isco system) using RediSep Rf Gold reversed-phase C18 275 g gold column, 0%-100% ACN/water as the eluent. The title compound was collected as a solid after lyophilization. LCMS m/z (M+H) calc'd: 382.21; found (M+H): 382.30.

Step 5. 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-1-piperidyl]-2-[3-[4-(fluoromethyl)-4-hydroxy-piperidine-1-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1-yl]ethanone

To a stirred solution of 1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-1,4,5,6-tetrahydrocyclo penta[c]pyrazole-3-carboxylic acid (35 mg, 0.092 mmol) and HATU (41.9 mg, 0.110 mmol) in DMF (1147 μl) were added DIEA (48.1 μl, 0.275 mmol) and 4-fluoromethyl-4-hydroxypiperidine hydrochloride (23.34 mg, 0.138 mmol). The mixture was stirred at RT for about 2 h. LC-Mass showed the desired product as the major product. The mixture was diluted with DMSO (˜0.5 ml) and purified by mass-directed reverse HPLC purification (Reverse HPLC on a 19×100 mm, Waters CSH C18 column, 5μ particle size, flow rate 25 ml/min, linear gradient, 25% ACN/H2O to 65% ACN/water, total run time 12 min, buffering with 0.16% TFA) to afford the title compound as a solid after lyophilization. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CD₃OD): δ 7.05-6.99 (m, 3H); 5.16 (d, J 16.5 Hz, 1H); 5.04 (d, J 16.6 Hz, 1H); 4.64 (d, J 13.1 Hz, 1H); 4.48-4.39 (m, 2H); 4.24 (s, 1H); 4.14 (S, 1H); 4.09 (d, J 13.6 Hz, 1H); 3.28-3.15 (m, 4H); 2.83 (d, J 9.5 Hz, 1H); 2.76-2.72 (m, 4H); 2.63-2.59 (m, 2H); 2.29 (S, 3H); 2.28 (S, 3H); 1.84-1.80 (m, 2H); 1.67-1.56 (m, 6H). LCMS m z (M+H) calc'd: 497.28; found (M+H): 497.41.

Examples in the following table were prepared in a similar manner as Example 31.

Ex. Mass # Structure Chemical Name [M + H]+ 32

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-((3S,4S)-3-fluoro-4- hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl) ethanone 497.41 33

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy) piperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl) ethanone 509.41 34

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1- carbonyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H- indazol-1-yl)ethanone 479.42 35

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-((3S,4R)-3-fluoro-4- hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl) ethanone 497.41 36

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-(4-(fluoromethyl)-4- hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl) ethanone 511.42 37

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-((3S,4S)-3-fluoro-4- hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethanone 483.39 38

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy) piperidine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7- tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl)ethanone 523.45 39

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-((3R,4R)-4-hydroxy-3- methylpiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethan-1-one 479.35 40

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpiperidine- 1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethan-1-one 479.29 41

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1- carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethan-1-one 465.30 42

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl) piperazine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro- 1H-indazol-1-yl)ethanone 522.42 43

(S)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl)-2-(3-(2-(hydroxymethyl) morpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl) ethanone 481.40 44

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-((3R,4S)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c] pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone 483.37 45

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-((3R,4R)-3-fluoro-4- hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)- 5,6dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethanone 483.35 46

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-(morpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethan-1-one 451.26 47

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl) piperazine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethanone 508.37 48

(S)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl)-2-(3-(3-hydroxypyrrolidine-1- carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethan-1-one 451.25 49

(S)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl)-2-(3-(3-hydroxy-3- methylpyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethan-1-one 465.29 50

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-(3-hydroxy-3-methylazetidine-1- carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethan-1-one 451.26 51

(R)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl)-2-(3-(3-hydroxypyrrolidine-1- carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethan-1-one 451.28 52

1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl)-2-(3-((3S,4S)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol- 1(4H)-yl)ethanone 487.34 53

1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl)-2-(3-(4-(fluoromethyl)- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1 (4H)-yl)ethanone 501.37 54

1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl)-2-(3-((3R,4R)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol- 1(4H)-yl)ethanone 487.35 55

1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl)-2-(3-((3S,4R)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol- 1(4H)-yl)ethanone 487.37 56

1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl)-2-(3-((3R,4S)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol- 1(4H)-yl)ethanone 487.35 57

1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl) piperazine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl)ethanone 512.35 58

(S)-1-(4-(4-fluoro-2- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(2- (hydroxymethyl) morpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol- 1(4H)-yl)ethanone 485.37 59

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-((3R,4S)-3-fluoro-4- hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol- 1(4H)-yl)ethanone 483.40 60

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-((3S,4R)-3-fluoro- 4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c] pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone 483.37 61

1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl)-2-(3-((3R,4S or 3S, 4R)-3-fluoro-4- hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol- 1(4H)-yl)ethanone 483.4

Example 62. 2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(o-tolyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one

To a stirred solution of 2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta [c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)acetic acid (25 mg, 0.081 mmol) in DCM (1627 μl) were added 1-hydroxy-7-azabenzotriazole (22.14 mg, 0.163 mmol) and EDC (31.2 mg, 0.163 mmol), and then DIEA (28.4 μl, 0.163 mmol), 4-(o-tolyl)piperidine, and HCl (34.4 mg, 0.163 mmol). The mixture was stirred at RT for 2 h. LC-Mass showed reaction was complete and the desired product as the major product.

The mixture was concentrated and re-dissolved in DMSO (˜1.5 ml) and purified by mass-directed reversed phase HPLC purification (Reverse HPLC on a 19×100 mm, Waters CSH C18 column, 5μ particle size, flow rate 25 ml/min, linear gradient, 35% ACN/H₂O to 70% ACN/H₂O, total run time 12 min, buffering with 0.16% TFA) to afford the product as a solid after lyophilization. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CD₃OD): δ 7.18-7.13 (m, 3H); 7.09-7.07 (m, 1H); 5.17 (d, J 16.6 Hz, 1H); 5.06 (d, J 16.6 Hz, 1H); 4.66 (d, J 13.4 Hz, 1H); 4.61 (d, J 13.7 Hz, 1H); 4.46 (d, J 12.8 Hz, 1H); 4.09 (d, J 13.8 Hz, 1H); 3.63-3.59 (m, 2H); 3.33-3.28 (m, 2H); 3.14-3.07 (m, 1H); 2.87-2.81 (m, 2H); 2.76-2.72 (m, 4H); 2.63-2.59 (m, 2H); 2.38 (S, 3H); 1.86-1.81 (m, 2H); 1.71-1.58 (m, 2H); 1.21 (d, J 5.5 Hz, 3H); 1.12 (d, J 4.8 Hz, 3H). LCMS m z (M+H) calc'd: 465.3; found (M+H): 465.4.

Examples in the following table were prepared in a similar manner as Example 62.

Ex. Mass # Structure Chemical Name [M + H]+ 63

2-[3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydro-4H- cyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1-yl]-1-(4-fluoro- 4-phenyl-1-piperidyl)ethanone 469.40 64

2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta [c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(2,3- dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl) ethanone 479.44 65

2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta [c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(m- tolyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone 465.41 66

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-(4-methyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1- yl)ethan-1-one Calc'd 465.3, Found 465.39 67

1-[4-(3,5-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 487.3, Found 487.38 68

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 469.3, Found 469.37 69

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(naphthalen-1-yl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 501.3, Found 501.43 70

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-(4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one Calc'd 451.3, Found 451.28 71

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[2- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 519.3, Found 519.39 72

1-(3,3-difluoro-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)- 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 487.3, Found 487.23 73

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{3-[2- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyrrolidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 505.2, Found 505.26 74

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-(4-phenylazepan-1-yl)ethan-1-one Calc'd 465.3, Found 465.43 75

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 481.3, Found 481.22 76

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(naphthalen-2-yl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 501.3, Found 501.43 77

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[3-(3-fluoro-2- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl] ethan-1-one Calc'd 483.3, Found 483.28 78

1-[3-(2-chlorophenyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]-2- {3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 471.2, Found 471.16 79

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[(3R,4R)-3-methyl-4-phenylpiperidin- 1-yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 465.3, Found 465.32

Example 80. 2-(3-(cis-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(3,4-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one

Step 1. 1-(4-bromopiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one

2-(3-((2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)acetic acid (1.303 g, 4.24 mmol) was treated with 1 drop of DMF, dissolved in DCM (12.33 ml), and cooled to 0° C. (COCl)₂ (0.742 ml, 8.48 mmol) was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred at RT and concentrated to remove volatiles. To solid 4-bromopiperidine hydrobromide (1.558 g, 6.36 mmol) was added DCM (12.33 ml), followed by 4-methylmorpholine (1.865 ml, 16.96 mmol). The mixture was cooled to −78° C. The acyl chloride prepared above was added as a solution to DCM (5 mL). The mixture was slowly warmed to RT. The reaction was diluted with water, extracted with EtOAc, and one more extraction. The combined organics were dried over Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated. HPLC on silica gel eluted with EtOAc 5%-100% afforded the title compound as a solid. LCMS m/z (M+H) calc'd: 455.15; found (M+H): 455.35

Step 2. 2-(3-(cis-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(3,4-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one

To a 2-dram vial containing a stirring bar was charged with 1-(4-bromopiperidin 1-yl)-2-(3-(cis-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone (40 mg, 0.088 mmol), (IR[DF(CF₃)PPY]₂(DTBPY))PF₆ (0.990 mg, 0.882 μmol), nickel (II) chloride ethylene glycol dimethyl ether complex (1.939 mg, 8.82 μmol), and 4,4′-DI-tert-butyl-2,2′-bipyridine (2.368 mg, 8.82 μmol). The vial was capped and transferred into a glove box, then uncapped and charged with 1,2-dimethoxyethane (1003 μl), 2-bromo-3,4-dimethylpyridine (24.62 mg, 0.132 mmol), 2,6-dimethylpyridine (20.55 μl, 0.176 mmol), and tris(trimethylsilyl)silane (82 μl, 0.265 mmol). The vial was capped and transferred out of the glove box, and irradiated with Integrated Photoreactor, Royal Blue (450 nm) LED light. 100% LED light power was applied. Stir rate was 1000 rpm. Fan rate was 4700 rpm. The reaction was checked with LC-MS until complete (about 3 h). The reaction mixture was partitioned between EtOAc (10 mL) and water (4 mL). Aqueous layer was extracted with EtOAc (5 mL). The combined organic layers were concentrated with GeneVac. The residue was purified with mass-directed semi-preparative reversed phase HPLC (Column—Waters Sunfire C18, 5 μm, 19×100 mm. Gradient conditions—12 min run time; flow rate: 25 mL/min; 8-35% ACN in water, with 0.16% TFA in both ACN and water) to afford the title compound as a TFA salt. ¹H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 8.53 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 1H), 7.60 (d, J=6.0 Hz, 1H), 5.20 (d, J=16.1 Hz, 1H), 5.06 (d, J=16.2 Hz, 1H), 4.81 (d, J=13.2 Hz, 1H), 4.53 (d, J=12.7 Hz, 1H), 4.10 (m, 2H), 3.65 (brs, 2H), 3.50 (m, 1H), 3.32 (m, 1H), 2.92 (brs, 1H), 2.80 (m, 3H), 2.76-2.68 (m, 2H), 2.63 (m, 6H), 2.50 (s, 3H), 2.35 (m, 1H), 2.03 (m, 1H), 1.99-1.87 (m, 2H), 1.27 (s, 3H), 1.20 (s, 3H). LCMS m/z (M+H) calc'd: 480.30; found (M+H): 480.29.

Examples in the following table were prepared in a similar manner as Example 80.

Ex. Mass # Structure Chemical Name [M + H]+ 81

1-[4-(4-chloro-3- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 499.2, found 499.3 82

1-[4-(3-chloro-2- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 499.2, found 499.2 83

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[2-methyl-3- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 533.3, found 533.2 84

1-[4-(benzothiophen-7-yl)-1-piperidyl]- 2-[3-[(2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydro-4H- cyclopenta[c]pyrazol-2-ium-1- yl]ethanone;2,2,2-trifluoroacetate Calc'd 507.2, found 507.3 85

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(5-fluoronaphthalen-1-yl)piperidin- 1-yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 519.3, found 519.3 86

1-[4-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4- yl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 491.3, found 491.3 87

1-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 519.2, found 519.2 88

1-[4-(1-benzothiophen-4-yl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 507.2, found 507.2 89

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 479.3, found 479.3 90

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(3-fluoro-5- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 483.3, found 483.3 91

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(3-fluoro-4- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 483.3, found 483.3 92

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(4-fluoro-2- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 483.3, found 483.3 93

1-[4-(2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5- yl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 493.3, found 493.3 94

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(4-fluoro-3- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 483.3, found 483.3 95

1-[4-(3-chloro-5-fluoro-4- methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 533.2, found 533.2 96

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(3-ethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 479.3, found 479.3 97

1-[4-(2-chloro-3-fluorophenyl)piperidin- 1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 503.2, found 503.3 98

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(5-fluoro-2- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 483.3, found 483.3 99

1-[4-(3-chloro-5-fluorophenyl)piperidin- 1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 503.2, found 503.2 100

1-[4-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)piperidin- 1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 503.2, found 503.2 101

1-[4-(4-chloro-3,5- difluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 521.2, found 521.2 102

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(4-methoxy-3,5- dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 509.3, found 509.3 103

1-[4-(3-cyclopropylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 491.3, found 491.3 104

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[2-fluoro-3- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 537.2, found 537.2 105

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 479.3, found 479.3 106

1-[4-(4-chloro-2- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 499.2, found 499.2 107

1-[4-(3-chlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2- {3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 485.2, found 485.2 108

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(3-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 481.3, found 481.3 109

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2-ethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 479.3, found 479.3 110

1-[4-(3,5-difluoro-2- methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 517.3, found 517.3 111

1-[4-(3-chloro-4- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 499.2, found 499.3 112

1-[4-(4-chloro-3-fluorophenyl)piperidin- 1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 503.2, found 503.2 113

1-[4-(2-cyclopropylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 491.3, found 491.3 114

1-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2- {3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 485.2, found 485.2 115

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(3-fluoro-2- methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 499.3, found 499.3 116

1-[4-(4-chloro-3,5- dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 513.3, found 513.3 117

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 505.2, found 505.2 118

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[3-fluoro-2- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 537.2, found 537.3 119

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2-fluoro-5- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 483.3, found 483.3 120

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[4-methyl-3- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 533.3, found 533.3 121

1-[4-(2,3-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 487.3, found 487.2 122

1-[4-(3,5-dichloro-2- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 533.2, found 533.2 123

1-[4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 519.2, found 519.2 124

1-[4-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)piperidin- 1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 503.2, found 503.2 125

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[3-(1- methylcyclopropyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 505.3, found 505.3 126

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 505.2, found 505.3 127

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(4-methylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 465.3, found 465.3 128

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2,3,4-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 505.2, found 505.2 129

3-[1-({3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}acetyl)piperidin-4-yl]-2- methylbenzonitrile Calc'd 490.3, found 490.2 130

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(3-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 469.3, found 469.3 131

1-[4-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 491.3, found 491.3 132

1-[4-(2-chloro-3,4,5- trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 539.2, found 539.2 133

1-{4-[3-(difluoromethyl)-4- fluorophenyl]piperidin-1-yl}-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 519.3, found 519.3 134

1-[4-(3,5-difluoro-4- methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 517.3, found 517.3 135

1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)piperidin- 1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 503.2, found 503.2 136

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2,4,5-trimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 493.3, found 493.3 137

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2-fluoro-4- methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl] ethan-1-one Calc'd 499.3, found 499.3 138

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(4-methoxy-2,3- dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 509.3, found 509.3 139

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(4-fluoro-3,5- dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl] ethan-1-one Calc'd 497.3, found 497.3 140

1-{4-[4-(difluoromethyl)-3- fluorophenyl]piperidin-1-yl}-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 519.3, found 519.3 141

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[3-fluoro-5- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 537.2, found 537.3 142

1-{4-[4-(difluoromethyl)-2- fluorophenyl]piperidin-1-yl}-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 519.3, found 519.2 143

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(~2~H_5_)phenylpiperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 456.3, found 456.3 144

1-[4-(3,4-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 487.3, found 487.3 145

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 469.3, found 469.3 146

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(4-ethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 479.3, found 479.3 147

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[2-fluoro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 537.2, found 537.2 148

1-[4-(3-chloro-5- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 499.2, found 499.3 149

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 505.2, found 505.2 150

1-[4-(2,5-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 487.3, found 487.3 151

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[4-fluoro-3- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 537.2, found 537.3 152

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 505.2, found 505.3 153

1-[4-(2,2-difluoro-2H-1,3-benzodioxol- 4-yl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 531.2, found 531.3 154

1-[4-(2-chloro-4,5- difluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 521.2, found 521.2 155

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 479.3, found 479.3 156

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2-fluoro-5- methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 499.3, found 499.3 157

1-[4-(2-chlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2- {3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 485.2, found 485.3 158

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(2-fluoro-6- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 483.3, found 483.3 159

1-{4-[3-(1,1- difluoroethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}-2- {3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 515.3, found 515.3 160

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[3- (trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 535.3, found 535.3 161

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[3-fluoro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 537.2, found 537.3 162

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[2-methyl-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 533.3, found 533.2 163

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[2- (trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 535.3, found 535.2 164

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[3-(2,2,2- trifluoroethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 533.3, found 533.3 165

1-[4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 487.3, found 487.3 166

1-[4-(5-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)piperidin- 1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 503.2, found 503.2 167

1-[4-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1- yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6- dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 519.2, found 519.2 168

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-{4-[4-(propan-2-yl)phenyl]piperidin- 1-yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 493.3, found 493.3 169

1-{4-[3-chloro-4- (trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}- 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 553.2, found 553.2 170

1-[4-(5-chloro-2- methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 515.2, found 515.2 171

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(isoquinolin-5-yl)piperidin-1- yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 502.3, found 502.3 172

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(4-fluoro-2,3- dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1- one Calc'd 497.3, found 497.3 173

2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine- 4-carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}- 1-[4-(3-fluoro-2- methylphenyl)piperidin- 1-yl]ethan-1-one Calc'd 483.3, found 483.3 174

1-[4-(3,4-difluoro-2- methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3- [(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4- carbonyl]-5,6- dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)- yl}ethan-1-one Calc'd 501.3, found 501.3

Biological Assays

IDO1 Cellular Assay in HeLa Cells Stimulated with IFNγ

HeLa cells were cultured in complete HeLa culture medium (90% EMEM, 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum) and expanded to about 1×10⁹ cells. The cells were then collected and frozen down at 1×10⁷ cells/vial in 1 mL frozen medium (90% complete HeLa culture medium, 10% DMSO).

Compounds to be tested were serially diluted in ten 3-fold steps in DMSO starting from 10 mM DMSO stocks in Echo low volume plate(s). Compound dilutions or DMSO alone were then dispensed from the dilution plate(s) into Greiner black 384-well assay plate(s) (catalog #781086, 50 nL/well) using an Echo 550 acoustic liquid handler (Labcyte).

Frozen HeLa cells were thawed and transferred into HeLa assay medium (99% complete HeLa culture medium, 1% Pen/Strep) with 20 mL medium/vial of cells. The cells were spun down at 250 g in a table top centrifuge for 5 min and suspended in same volume of HeLa assay medium. The cells were then counted and adjusted to a density of 2×10⁵ cells/mL in HeLa assay medium. Sterile L-tryptophan were added to the cells with final concentration of 300 uM L-tryptophan. A small aliquot (2 mL/plate) of HeLa cells were set aside and were not treated with IFNγ, to serve as the Max-E control. The rest of HeLa cells were added with sterile IFNγ (Cat #285-IF, R & D systems) with a final concentration of 100 ng/mL.

HeLa cells with and without IFNγ were dispensed to the respective wells of 384-well assay plates containing the compounds. The plates were incubated for about 48 hours at a 37° C., 5% CO₂ incubator. Afterwards, 12 μL of 0.5 M methyl isonipecotate in dimethyl sulfoxide were added into each well and the plates were sealed and incubated at 37° C. without CO₂ overnight. The plates were centrifuged for 1 min at 200×g. The resulting fluorescence was measured in a Spectramax plate reader (Molecular Devices) with a 400 nm excitation filter and a 510 nm emission filter.

The fluorescence intensity of each well was corrected for the background observed in wells with non-IFNγ-treated cells and was expressed as a fraction of the intensity observed in wells of IFNγ-treated cells and DMSO only. Potencies were calculated by linear least squares fit to the four parameter logistic IC₅₀ equation.

The biological activity data using the IDO1 cellular assay described above are summarized in the table below. Compounds disclosed herein generally have IC₅₀ of about 0.1 nM to about 20,000 nM, or more specifically, about 1 nM to about 10,000 nM, or more specifically, about 5 nM to about 5,000 nM, or more specifically, about 10 nM to about 1,000 nM, or still more specifically, about 10 nM to about 500 nM. Specific IC₅₀ activity data for the exemplified compounds disclosed herein is provided in the following table.

IDO1 HELA Cell Assay, Ex. # IC₅₀, nM 1 0.8 2 1.6 3 1.3 4 3.0 5 1.7 6 2.5 7 3.2 8 1.0 9 11.1 10 3.4 11 5.4 12 2.1 13 90.4 14 3.4 15 11.6 16 25.0 17 1.0 18 2.3 19 0.9 20 0.9 21 0.9 22 1.1 23 1.1 24 1.2 25 1.6 26 1.8 27 36.8 28 41.2 29 54.2 30 298.9 31 5.1 32 0.8 33 1.1 34 1.2 35 1.3 36 1.6 37 1.8 38 1.9 39 1.9 40 2.8 41 3.6 42 3.7 43 5.5 44 7.3 45 8.1 46 16.0 47 17.6 48 27.0 49 29.8 50 40.1 51 45.5 52 110.9 53 113.9 54 162.0 55 166.0 56 199.4 57 289.3 58 453.6 59 1.8 60 3.5 61 3.7 62 9.8 63 295.8 64 1.1 65 15.8 66 43.5 67 52.4 68 71.2 69 6.4 70 79.4 71 106.6 72 144.2 73 152.1 74 170.4 75 195.5 76 198.6 77 233.4 78 346.2 79 354.0 80 74.2 81 2.9 82 3.5 83 4.2 84 4.7 85 5.3 86 7.3 87 7.8 88 8.3 89 8.8 90 9.9 91 11.9 92 14.4 93 17.8 94 18.9 95 19.3 96 21.5 97 24.1 98 27.1 99 27.4 100 27.7 101 27.9 102 28.9 103 29.6 104 29.8 105 30.3 106 30.3 107 31.5 108 37.9 109 38.2 110 39.3 111 40.3 112 40.6 113 42.6 114 45.8 115 48.5 116 48.6 117 48.9 118 49.8 119 52.1 120 52.5 121 53.2 122 54.5 123 54.5 124 57.0 125 57.7 126 59.0 127 61.1 128 64.1 129 64.1 130 66.1 131 77.9 132 80.2 133 81.7 134 82.1 135 83.4 136 85.0 137 85.0 138 87.6 139 88.3 140 89.0 141 97.4 142 99.5 143 102.1 144 103.9 145 105.9 146 107.0 147 109.1 148 116.7 149 120.2 150 122.1 151 125.7 152 125.9 153 138.4 154 142.4 155 143.2 156 149.2 157 149.6 158 153.3 159 156.4 160 162.0 161 165.4 162 172.9 163 176.5 164 206.3 165 234.4 166 261.0 167 273.9 168 296.1 169 328.8 170 361.3 171 439.9 172 1.7 173 6.4 174 10.3

IDO1 Human Whole Blood Assay

Compounds to be tested were serially diluted in ten 3-fold steps in DMSO starting from 10 mM. 3 μL of compound dilutions or DMSO alone were then dispensed from the dilution plate into a polypropylene 96-well assay plate containing 97 μL of RPMI medium using an Echo 555 acoustic liquid handler (Labcyte). LPS and IFNγ was prepared in RPMI medium to a 10× of final conc. (1000 ng/mL), final concentration is 100 ng/mL.

Human whole blood was drawn in sodium heparin coated tubes from healthy internal donors. 240 μL of blood was transferred to each of the wells of a v-bottom 96 well plate. 30 μL of compound was transferred from intermediate dilution plate, and incubated for 15 min. 30 μL from stimulants was then transferred to blood and mixed thoroughly. Plate was covered with breathable membrane and incubated at 37° C. for overnight (18 h).

On day 2, isotope labeled standard solutions of kynurenine and tryptophan was made in water at 10× concentration and 30 μL was added to the blood at 3 μM final concentration. The assay plates were centrifuged at 300×G for 10 min with no brake to separate plasma from red blood cells. 60 μL of plasma samples was removed without disturbing red blood cells. Plasma was diluted with RPMI in 1:1 ratio and proteins were precipitated out with two volumes of Acetonitrile. The plates were centrifuged at 4000×G for 60 min. 20 μL of supernatant was carefully transferred to a 384 well plate containing 40 μL of 0.1% formic acid in water and analyzed by LC/MS/MS.

LC/MS/MS analyses were performed using Thermo Fisher's LX4-TSQ Quantum Ultra system. This system consists of four Agilent binary high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) pumps and a TSQ Quantum Ultra triple quadrupole MS/MS instrument. For each sample, 5 μL were injected onto an Atlantis T3 column (2.1 mm×150 mm, 3 μm particle size) from Waters. The mobile phase gradient pumped at 0.8 mL/min was used to elute the analytes from the column at 25 EC. The elution started at 0% B increasing linearly to 25% B at 6.5 min, holding at 25% for 1 min, re-equilibrating to 10 min. Mobile phase A consisted of 0.1% formic acid in water. Mobile phase B consisted of 0.1% of formic acid in acetonitrile. Data were acquired in positive mode using a HESI interface. The operational parameters for the TSQ Quantum Ultra instrument were a spray voltage of 4000 V, capillary temperature of 380° C., vaporizer temperature 400° C., shealth gas 60 arbitrary units, Aux gas 20 arbitrary units, tube lens 85 and collision gas 1.2 mTorr. SRM chromatograms of kynurenine (Qi: 209.2>Q3:94.0) and internal standard (Qi: 215.3>Q3:98.2) were collected for 90 sec. The peak area was integrated by Xcalibur Quan software. The ratios between the kynurenine generated in the reaction and 2D6-Kynurenine spiked-in internal standard were used to generate percentage inhibition and IC₅₀ values. Compounds were titrated and IC₅₀'s were calculated by 4 parameter sigmoidal curve fitting formula.

The biological activity data of selective compounds using the IDO1 human whole blood assay described above are summarized in the table below.

IDO1 human whole blood Ex. # assay, IC₅₀, nM 7 1211.0 9 3365.0 14 1395.0 17 59.6 18 58.9 19 219.2 20 53.3 21 327.9 22 69.1 25 192.4 26 258.1 31 87.6 32 83.7 33 30.9 35 220.8 36 50.8 37 84.9 42 303.6 43 191.5 44 732.8 60 488.2 61 545.4 62 475.1 64 295.6 65 651.7 81 1316.0 82 435.3 83 1850.0 172 434.5 173 269.3

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to certain particular embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations, changes, modifications, substitutions, deletions, or additions of procedures and protocols may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A compound of formula (I), or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

wherein: each of the dashed lines “

” is an optional bond; m is 0, 1, or 2; n is 0, 1, or 2; p is 1 or 2; R^(a) is selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) C₁₋₆ alkyl; each occurrence of R^(b) is independently selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) halogen, and (3) C₁₋₆ alkyl; R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) halogen, and (3) C₁₋₆ alkyl; R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl containing the one nitrogen to which they are attached and zero to two additional hetero atoms independently selected from N, S and O; wherein the heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) —OH, (c) C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from (i) —OH, (ii) halogen and (iii) —C(O)—NHR^(e), wherein R^(e) is selected from (i) hydrogen and (ii) C₁₋₆ alkyl, (d) —O—C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from (i) —OH and (ii) halogen, (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen, (ii) C₁₋₆ alkyl and (iii) —C(O)—C₁₋₆ alkyl, and (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b) halogen; and R³ is selected from (1) C₆₋₁₀ carbocyclyl and (2) heterocyclyl, wherein each of the carbocyclyl and heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to four halogens, (c) —O—C₁₋₆ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to four halogens, (d) —CN, and (e) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with C₁₋₆ alkyl.
 2. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R^(a) is hydrogen.
 3. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: each occurrence of R^(b) is independently selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) fluoro, (3) chloro, and (4) C₁₋₄ alkyl.
 4. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) fluoro, and (3) methyl.
 5. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein m is 0 or 1; n is 0 or 1; and p is 1 or
 2. 6. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl containing the one nitrogen to which they are attached and zero to one additional hetero atoms independently selected from N and O; wherein the heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) —OH, (c) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (i) —OH, (ii) halogen, and (iii) —C(O)—NH₂, (d) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b) fluoro, (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen and (ii) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, and (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b) halogen.
 7. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl selected from azetidinyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, and pyrrolidinyl; wherein the heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) —OH, (c) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (i) halogen and (ii) —C(O)—NH₂, (d) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH, (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen and (ii) —C(O)—CH₃, and (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH.
 8. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R³ is selected from: (1) aryl, (2) a phenyl fused to a C₄₋₅ cycloalkyl, (3) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and (4) heterocyclyl; wherein each of the aryl of (1) and the heterocyclyl of (4) is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (c) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (d) —CN, and (e) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with C₁₋₄ alkyl.
 9. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R³ is selected from: (1) phenyl, (2) naphthyl, (3) bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trienyl, (4) 2,3-dihydro-1H-indenyl, (5) C₅₋₆ cycloalkyl, and (6) a heterocyclyl selected from benzo[b]thiophenyl, benzo[d][1,3]dioxolyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, pyridinyl, and quinolinyl; wherein each of the phenyl of (1), naphthyl of (2), and heterocyclyl of (6) is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (c) ethyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (d) —O-methyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (e) —O-ethyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (f) —CN, and (g) cyclopropyl, optionally substituted with methyl or ethyl.
 10. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, of formula (Ia):

wherein: m is 0, 1, or 2; n is 0, 1, or 2; p is 1 or 2; R^(a) is selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) C₁₋₄ alkyl; each occurrence of R^(b) is independently selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) fluoro, (3) chloro, and (4) C₁₋₄ alkyl; R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) fluoro, and (3) methyl; R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl containing the one nitrogen to which they are attached and zero to one additional hetero atoms independently selected from N and O; wherein the heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) —OH, (c) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (i) —OH, (ii) halogen, and (iii) —C(O)—NH₂, (d) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b) fluoro, (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen and (ii) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, and (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b) halogen; and R³ is selected from: (1) aryl, (2) a phenyl fused to a C₄₋₅ cycloalkyl, (3) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and (4) heterocyclyl; wherein each of the aryl of (1) and the heterocyclyl of (4) is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (c) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (d) —CN, and (e) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with C₁₋₄ alkyl.
 11. The compound of claim 10, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein: R^(a) is hydrogen; each occurrence of R^(b) is independently selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) fluoro, and (3) methyl; R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) fluoro, and (3) methyl; R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl selected from azetidinyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, and pyrrolidinyl; wherein the heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) —OH, (c) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (i) halogen and (ii) —C(O)—NH₂, (d) ethyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (e) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH, (f) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen and (ii) —C(O)—CH₃, and (g) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH; and R³ is selected from: (1) phenyl, (2) naphthyl, (3) bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1,3,5-trienyl, (4) 2,3-dihydro-1H-indenyl, (5) C₅₋₆ cycloalkyl, and (6) a heterocyclyl selected from benzo[b]thiophenyl, benzo[d][1,3]dioxolyl, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuranyl, pyridinyl, and quinolinyl; wherein each of the phenyl of (1), naphthyl of (2), and heterocyclyl of (6) is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from: wherein each of the phenyl of (1), naphthyl of (2), and the heterocyclyl of (6) is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (c) ethyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (d) —O-methyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (e) —O-ethyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (f) —CN, and (g) cyclopropyl, optionally substituted with methyl or ethyl.
 12. The compound of claim 1, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, of formula (Ib):

wherein: m is 0, 1, or 2; R^(a) is selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) C₁₋₄ alkyl; each occurrence of R^(b) is independently selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) fluoro, (3) chloro, and (4) C₁₋₄ alkyl; R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen, (2) fluoro, and (3) methyl; R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl containing the one nitrogen to which they are attached and zero to one additional hetero atoms independently selected from N and O; wherein the heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) —OH, (c) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (i) —OH, (ii) halogen, and (iii) —C(O)—NH₂, (d) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b) fluoro, (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen and (ii) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, and (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (a) —OH and (b) halogen; and R³ is selected from: (1) aryl, (2) a phenyl fused to a C₄₋₅ cycloalkyl, (3) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, and (4) heterocyclyl; wherein each of the aryl of (1) and heterocyclyl of (4) is optionally substituted with one to four substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (c) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens, (d) —CN, and (e) C₃₋₆ cycloalkyl, optionally substituted with C₁₋₄ alkyl.
 13. The compound of claim 12, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: wherein: m is 1; R^(a) is hydrogen; each occurrence of R^(b) is hydrogen; R^(c) is selected from: (1) hydrogen and (2) fluoro; R¹ and R² together with the nitrogen to which they are attached form a 4-6 membered heterocyclyl selected from azetidinyl, morpholinyl, piperidinyl, piperazinyl, and pyrrolidinyl; wherein the heterocyclyl is optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, (b) —OH, (c) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from (i) —OH and (ii) —C(O)—NH₂, (d) —O—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH, (e) —NHR^(f), wherein R^(f) is selected from (i) hydrogen and (ii) —C(O)—CH₃, and (f) —C(O)—C₁₋₄ alkyl, optionally substituted with —OH; and R³ is phenyl, optionally substituted with one to three substituents independently selected from: (a) halogen, and (b) methyl, optionally substituted with one to three halogens.
 14. The compound of claim 1 selected from the group consisting of: 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(fluoromethyl)-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl) phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone, 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl) ethanone, 2-hydroxy-1-(4-((3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carbonyl)piperazin-1-yl)ethanone, 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-((S)-2-(hydroxymethyl)morpholine-4-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) piperidin-1-yl)ethanone, 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-((R)-2-(hydroxymethyl)morpholine-4-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) piperidin-1-yl)ethanone, 2-(4-((3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carbonyl)piperazin-1-yl)acetamide, 2-(3-((2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)piperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa [3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone, N-(1-((3bR,4aR)-1-(2-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-oxoethyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazole-3-carbonyl)piperidin-4-yl)acetamide, 2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-aminopiperidine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-4-fluoropiperidin-1-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-3,3-difluoropiperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-1(6),2,4-trien-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, (S)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-3-methylpiperazine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-((3bR,4aR)-3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl)-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl)ethanone, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[4-(hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3R,4R)-4-hydroxy-3-methylpiperidine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3R,4S)-4-hydroxy-3-methylpiperidine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3S,4S)-4-hydroxy-3-methylpiperidine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3S,4R)-4-hydroxy-3-methylpiperidine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3S,4S)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3R,4R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bR,4aR)-3-[(3R,4S)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bS,4aS)-3-[(3S,4R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bS,4aS)-3-[4-(hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{(3bS,4aS)-3-[(3R,4S)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl]-3b,4,4a,5-tetrahydro-1H-cyclopropa[3,4]cyclopenta[1,2-c]pyrazol-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-(4-cyclohexylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)-1-piperidyl]-2-[3-[4-(fluoromethyl)-4-hydroxy-piperidine-1-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1-yl]ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3S,4S)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)piperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3S,4R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-(fluoromethyl)-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3S,4S)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)piperidine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3R,4R)-4-hydroxy-3-methylpiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxy-4-methylpiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-1H-indazol-1-yl)ethanone, (S)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(2-(hydroxymethyl)morpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3R,4S)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3R,4R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(morpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, (S)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(3-hydroxypyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one, (S)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(3-hydroxy-3-methylpyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(3-hydroxy-3-methylazetidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one, (R)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(3-hydroxypyrrolidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethan-1-one, 1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3S,4S)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-(fluoromethyl)-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3R,4R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3S,4R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3R,4S)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(4-(2-hydroxyacetyl)piperazine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, (S)-1-(4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-(2-(hydroxymethyl)morpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3R,4S)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3S,4R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)-2-(3-((3R,4S or 3S, 4R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxypiperidine-1-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)ethanone, 2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(o-tolyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one, 2-[3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1-yl]-1-(4-fluoro-4-phenyl-1-piperidyl)ethanone, 2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone, 2-(3-((2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(m-tolyl)piperidin-1-yl)ethanone, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-(4-methyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3,5-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(naphthalen-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-(4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-(3,3-difluoro-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl)-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{3-[2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyrrolidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-(4-phenylazepan-1-yl)ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(naphthalen-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[3-(3-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[3-(2-chlorophenyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[(3R,4R)-3-methyl-4-phenylpiperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-(3-(cis-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl)-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl)-1-(4-(3,4-dimethylpyridin-2-yl)piperidin-1-yl)ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[2-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(benzothiophen-7-yl)-1-piperidyl]-2-[3-[(2S,6R)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[c]pyrazol-2-ium-1-yl]ethanone;2,2,2-trifluoroacetate, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(5-fluoronaphthalen-1-yl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-4-yl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(1-benzothiophen-4-yl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(3-fluoro-5-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(4-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(4-fluoro-3-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3-chloro-5-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(3-ethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2-chloro-3-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(5-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3-chloro-5-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(4-chloro-3,5-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3-cyclopropylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[2-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3-chlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(3-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2-ethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3,5-difluoro-2-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3-chloro-4-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(4-chloro-3-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2-cyclopropylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(3-fluoro-2-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2,3,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[3-fluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2-fluoro-5-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[4-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,3-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3,5-dichloro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2-chloro-4-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[3-(1-methylcyclopropyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(4-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2,3,4-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 3-[1-({3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}acetyl)piperidin-4-yl]-2-methylbenzonitrile, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(3-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(4-cyclopropylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2-chloro-3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-{4-[3-(difluoromethyl)-4-fluorophenyl]piperidin-1-yl}-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3,5-difluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(4-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2,4,5-trimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2-fluoro-4-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(4-methoxy-2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(4-fluoro-3,5-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-{4-[4-(difluoromethyl)-3-fluorophenyl]piperidin-1-yl}-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[3-fluoro-5-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-{4-[4-(difluoromethyl)-2-fluorophenyl]piperidin-1-yl}-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(˜2H_5_)phenylpiperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3,4-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(4-ethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[2-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3-chloro-5-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,5-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[4-fluoro-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2,3,6-trifluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,2-difluoro-2H-1,3-benzodioxol-4-yl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2-chloro-4,5-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(3,5-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2-fluoro-5-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2-chlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(2-fluoro-6-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 1-{4-[3-(1,1-difluoroethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[3-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[3-fluoro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[2-methyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[2-(trifluoromethoxy)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(2,4-difluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(5-chloro-2-fluorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-{4-[4-(propan-2-yl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-{4-[3-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]piperidin-1-yl}-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 1-[4-(5-chloro-2-methoxyphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(isoquinolin-5-yl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(4-fluoro-2,3-dimethylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, 2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}-1-[4-(3-fluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]ethan-1-one, and 1-[4-(3,4-difluoro-2-methylphenyl)piperidin-1-yl]-2-{3-[(2R,6S)-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-4-carbonyl]-5,6-dihydrocyclopenta[c]pyrazol-1(4H)-yl}ethan-1-one; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 15. A composition which comprises an inert carrier and a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 16. (canceled)
 17. A method for treating or preventing an IDO-associated disease or disorder in a mammalian subject which comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 18. A method for treating an IDO-associated disease or disorder in a mammalian subject which comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with another anti-cancer agent.
 19. A method for treating an IDO-associated disease or disorder in a mammalian subject which comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound of claim 1 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with two additional anti-cancer agents.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein the IDO-associated disease or disorder is a cancer, viral infection, HCV infection, depression, neurodegenerative disorders, trauma, age-related cataracts, organ transplantation, and autoimmune diseases.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the cancer is selected from colon cancer, pancreas cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, testes cancer, renal cancer, head and neck cancer, lymphoma, leukemia and melanoma. 